The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.

Home Explore Winter 2017

View in Fullscreen

Like this book? You can publish your book online for free in a few minutes!

Related Publications

Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.

Published by kat, 2018-11-01 01:53:20

Winter 2017

Pages:

Wise Traditions
in Food, Farming and the healing arts
A PublicATion oF The WesTon A. Price FoundATion® Education  Research  Activism
$12 US
www.westonaprice.org
Volume 18 Number 4
FEATURES
Winter 2017
Page 13 Page 25 Page 30 Page 40
THE HPA AXIS
Karen Lyke, MS, CCN, DSc, CGP, describes how our hormones control all facets of life, from conception and growth to synchronization with the greater world.
A PRIMER ON THE THYROID
Ronda Nelson, PhD, explains the endocrine triangle and shows how thyroid health is dependent on the proper function of the adrenal, pituitary and sex hormones.
RECOVERY FROM BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES
Kim Schuette, CN, explains why bioidentical hormones made of soy or yams may not be such a good idea.
FOLLOWING IN DR. PRICE’S FOOTSTEPS
Katie Williamson and Hilda Labrada Gore trace Dr. Weston Price’s journey to Peru and learn important wisdom from the local elders.
DEPARTMENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LETTERS
CAUSTIC COMMENTARY READING BETWEEN THE LINES THE WISE TRADITIONS PANTRY HOMEOPATHY JOURNAL TECHNOLOGY AS SERVANT WAPF PODCAST INTERVIEW ALL THUMBS BOOK REVIEWS VACCINATION UPDATE
Page 2 Page 3 Page 10 Page 46 Page 51 Page 55 Page 58 Page 63 Page 69 Page 77
FOOD FEATURES
FARM AND RANCH
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
A CAMPAIGN FOR REAL MILK
RAW MILK UPDATES
HEALTHY BABY GALLERY
LOCAL CHAPTERS
SHOP HEARD ’ROUND THE WORLD MEMBERSHIP
UPCOMING EVENTS
Page 81 Page 86 Page 88 Page 91 Page 97 Page 101 Page 102 Page 113 Page 132 Page 133
Wise Traditions Winter 2017 Volume 18 Number 4

WiseTraditions
in Food, Farming and the healing arts Volume 18 Number 4 Winter 2017
EDITORS
Sally Fallon Morell, MA Merinda Teller
COVER DESIGN Angela Eisenbart
COPY EDITORS Kathy Kramer Merinda Teller Kirk Kramer Anita Schubert
LAYOUT/DESIGN Michelle Bielowitz
WiseTraditions is mailed quarterly to members of the Weston A. Price Foundation PMB 106-380
4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 363-4394 Fax: (202) 363-4396 Email: [email protected] Website: www.westonaprice.org
DISCLAIMER
The information published herein is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate care of a qualified health practitioner.
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE We encourage the reproduction and dissemination of the information published in WiseTraditions with credit to the
Weston A. Price Foundation,
as long as it is solely used
to educate others. Permission in writing is required
if you intend to make money using the material herein.
The WesTon A. Price FoundATion ®
Education  Research  Activism
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Weston A. Price, DDS, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the op- timum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price’s research demonstrated that men and women achieve perfect physical form and perfect health, generation after generation, only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.
The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient- dense foods to the American diet through education, research and activism and supports a number of movements that contribute to this objective, including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. Specific goals include establishment of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban on the use of soy-based infant formula.
The Foundation seeks to establish a laboratory to test nutrient content of foods, particularly butter produced under various conditions; to conduct research into the “X” Factor, discovered by Dr. Price; and to determine the effects of traditional preparation methods on nutrient content and availability in whole foods.
The board and membership of the Weston A. Price Foundation stand united in the belief that modern technology should be harnessed as a servant to the wise and nurturing traditions of our ancestors rather than used as a force destructive to the environment and human health; and that science and knowledge can validate those traditions.
The Weston A. Price Foundation is supported by membership dues and private donations and receives no funding from the meat or dairy industries.

Wise Traditions
in Food, Farming and the healing arts
a publication of
the Weston a. PriCe Foundation®
Volume 18 Number 4
FEATURES
Page 13 Karen Lyke describes how our hormones control
Page Merinda Teller examines assaults on the thyroid
Reading Between the Lines
The Wise Traditions Pantry
Maureen Diaz offers tips on dealing with family illness
Homeopathy Journal
Homeopathy for the thyroid gland WINTER 2017
Page 55
Contents Winter 2017
The HPA Axis
Technology as Servant
John Moody reviews the chicken’s history as America’s most consumed meat
WAPF Podcast Interview
Hilda Gore talks to Lindsea Willon about the blood sugar roller coaster
All Thumbs Book Reviews
$tatin Nation
Big Chicken
Vaccination is Not Immunization The Craving Cure
Gardasil: Fast-Tracked and Flawed
Vaccination Update
Kendall Nelson on the tragic consequences
Page 58 Page 63 Page 69
Page 77
all facets of life
A Primer on the Thyroid
Dr. Ronda Nelson explains the endocrine triangle and thyroid health
Bioidentical Hormones
Kim Schuette explains why they may not be such a good idea
Following in Dr. Price's Footsteps
Katie Williamson and Hilda Labrada Gore trace Dr. Weston Price’s journey to Peru
DEPARTMENTS
President’s Message
Hormone health at Wise Traditions 2017
Letters
Caustic Commentary
Sally Fallon Morell challenges the Diet Dictocrats
Page 25 Page 30 Page 40
Page 2
Page 3 Page 10
81 Page 86 Page 88 Page 91
Page 97 Page 101 Page 102 Page 113 Page 132 Page 133
1
Page Megan Stevens praises properly prepared cassava
Food Feature
Farm and Ranch
Will Winter takes us on the farm tour
Legislative Updates
Judith McGeary on the farm bill
A Campaign for Real Milk
The fight for raw milk in Humboldt County
Raw Milk Update
Healthy Baby Gallery
Local Chapters
Shop Heard ‘Round the World Membership
Upcoming Events Wise Traditions
46 Page 51

the Weston a. PriCe Foundation®
Education  Research Activism
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sally Fallon Morell, MA, President
Kim Schuette, CN,Vice President
Sylvia Onusic, PhD, CNS, LDN, Secretary Valerie Cury, Treasurer
Pam Schoenfeld, MS, RD, Government Relations Sarah Pope
Tom Cowan, MD
Cherie Calvert
BOARD MEMBERS IN MEMORIAM Mary Enig, PhD, FACN, CNS Nicholas Gonzalez, MD
Jerry Brunetti
Fred Kummerow, PhD
GENERAL COUNSEL James Turner, Esq.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kathy Kramer
HONORARY BOARD
Jen Allbritton, BS, CN
Naomi Baumslag, MD, MPH
Marie A. Bishop, CDC
Joette Calabrese, HMC, CCH, RSHom(NA) Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD
Lee Clifford, MS, CCN
Christapher Cogswell, MA
Monica Corrado
Janice Curtin
Eric Davis, BDSc, DAc, DCN
Maureen Diaz
Sara Bachman Ducey, MS, CNS
James A. Duke, PhD
Mike Fitzpatrick, PhD
Ruth Ann Foster, MA
Donna Gates, BS, Med
Joann S. Grohman
Laura Hayes
Suzanne Humphries, MD
Beatrice Trum Hunter, MA
Mark A. Kastel
Felix Liao, DDS
Kilmer McCully, AB, MD, MA (hon)
Judith McGeary, Esq.
Leigh Merinoff
Carlos Monteiro
Kenneth Fielding Morehead, DOM
David Morris, BS, DC
Jill Nienhiser, BS, MA
Suroush Niknamian, BSc
Sandrine Perez
Kathryne Pirtle, BS, MA
Jessica Prentice
Phil Ridley
Bruce Rind, MD
Sir Julian Rose, BT
Julia Ross, MA
Beverly Rubik, BS, PhD
Joel Salatin
Adrienne Samuels, PhD
Stephanie Seneff, BS, MS, EE, PhD
C. Edgar Sheaffer, VMD
Ted Spence, DDS, ND
Alana Sugar, CN
Beverly B. Teter, PhD, FACN, CNS
John Umlauf
Susun S. Weed
Bruce West, DC
David Wetzel, BS
Louisa L. Williams, MS, DC, ND
Will Winter, DVM
In this journal, we bring you articles by our main speakers in the Hormone Health series at Wise Traditions 2017.
First came Ronda Nelson, who presented a Friday all-day seminar on thyroid health. She noted that healthy thyroid function depends on support from the adrenal, pituitary and the sex glands (ovaries and testes). She talked in detail about testing for thyroid function, explaining what each facet of the test could mean. Finally, she presented suggestions on a thyroid-healthy lifestyle and diet, which—no surprise—is the Wise Traditions diet! See her article on page 25.
At the plenary session on Saturday, Karen Lyke began with a general description of the endocrine system, showing how each gland works in concert with the others to ensure conception, growth, energy, homeostasis and, finally, connection with the wider universe. Karen’s wisdom can be found on page 13.
Kim Schuette shared her experience with treating women who had been on bioidentical hormones, explaining the pitfalls of such therapy and how to nourish your body so that it makes its own hormones, in just the right amount and at just the right times. Kim shares her findings on page 30.
Lindsea Willon spoke on the role of exercise in modulating insulin resistance and inflammation. Highlights of her talk are given in the podcast interview, page 63.
For the full talks of these experts (which are much more detailed than the articles) consider ordering tapes of the conference. The order form can be found here: fleetwoodonsite.com/index.php?cPath=40#. Wi1Xej3R-pp.
Once our yearly conference is over, we take a deep breath, relax a few days, and then start planning our next conference. In 2018, we are bringing the conference back to the Mid-Atlantic region, at the beautiful Baltimore Hilton Hotel. Please note that the dates are one week later than usual—November 16-18. This is the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it’s best to make your travel plans early.
We are also looking forward to working on several important projects in the new year. One is our push to get raw milk legalized in the last seven states (see page 94), a campaign led by the very capable Pete Kennedy. Another is a research project with Dr. Martin Groot- veld at the University of Leichester in the U.K. We will be looking at breakdown products in fish and fish liver oils, fat-soluble vitamins in a variety of foods, and isoflavone (estrogen) levels in egg yolks from hens fed with and without soy.
Most importantly, we will keep up our efforts to bring the message of the Wise Traditions diet to as many as possible—the next generation depends on it!
President’s Message
2 Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

FRESH MILK IS HEALTHY!
My daughter’s opera company, Orlando Youth Opera, is presenting Brundibar by Czech composer Hans Krása. The opera was composed right before World War II and tells the story of a brother and sister who search for fresh milk for their ailing mother. Many lines celebrate milk, butter, cream and cheese! One of my favorite lines is “Who needs a doctor’s care? That’s for the wealthy. Milk and cream your
mother needs. Fresh milk is healthy!” It makes me happy to hear these children singing about milk—especially knowing the composer meant real
raw milk from a Czech family farm! Lee Burdett Altamonte Springs, FL
A WAPF-INSPIRED BUSINESS
I’ve been following the WAPF recommendations since I first learned about Weston Price’s work in 2008 (right after my son Oliver’s birth). In fact, I was so very moved and inspired by Dr. Price’s work that we named our second son for him. After my first attempted home birth resulting in a C- section, I was beyond thrilled to give birth to Weston at home, safe in my own space, with no complications. It has truly been life-changing to be on this journey to better health through dietary changes and traditional nourish-
ing foods!
I will advertise in the journal very
soon, but I wanted to let you know that we have a small but long-established prepared foods business, the Oliver Weston Company. We use all WAPF- approved ingredients and cooking methods, providing soy-free pastured
WINTER 2017
Letters
eggs and poultry, fully pastured meats, beef tallow, lard, coconut oil, Himala- yan pink salt, raw honey and grade B maple syrup. We soak and cook our beans in bone broth with kombu. We make gluten-free “sourdough” breads by fermenting whole millet and buck- wheat grains. We ferment locally grown and organic produce into delicious cultured veggies. And, of course, we make bone broths with pastured bones and spring water—this is what we started with!
It has been a journey and we recently took a big plunge and rented our own kitchen with shop in Red Hook, New York (in the lovely Hudson Valley). We are slowly gaining local customers and continue delivering to New York City twice weekly, directly to our customers’ homes. We especially love serving people who are seeking the highest quality food or recovering from illness, and also families with young children.
Our three boys have been raised this way and are beautiful, healthy children. Thanks to your work, and the work of Dr. Campbell-McBride, we have been able to address digestive issues in our first son and our marriage has been saved since getting off of gluten and sugar (my husband suffers a great deal of depression when he has these things).
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We seek to educate and support everyone who is searching for a better way, as you and the Foundation do as well.
Hannah Springer Chapter Leader Dutchess County, New York
CHILDREN
WITH HIGH IMMUNITY
One evening in the fall of 1999, on a whim, I went to the presentation, Oiling of America, in Nashua, New Hampshire. Little did I know how my life would change that night. I walked out of the meeting “on cloud nine” as my husband put it, because I had found someone unafraid to speak the truth regarding nutrition.
As a dietitian, I had struggled with the current lowfat tenets and with the pressure to promote margarine and vegetable oils, intuitively knowing this advice was wrong. WAPF validated my suspicions and I wholly embraced its philosophy. I became a chapter leader and never once looked back.
Fast forward nearly twenty years— I now have three children, all WAPF babies, all incredibly healthy and bright. (My daughter is a freshman at Fryeburg Academy High School where she is one of only two students, in a class of one-hundred-and-fifty, eligible to take Honors Algebra II.)
My son’s best friend was recently diagnosed with pertussis. The condition actually went undiagnosed for three weeks, while this young boy coughed and coughed in our car and at our house. His mother, knowing my children were not vaccinated, called to alert me to his diagnosis. I was never worried, knowing that the foods we were eating would protect them. To the surprise of friends and family, my kids never came down with even a slight cough.
This is just one of many examples of how WAPF has affected our health over the years, and I cannot count the ways your work has helped family and
Wise Traditions
3

friends, too.
Indeed, my life changed on that
fateful night in Nashua so many years ago. I have only immense gratitude for the advice that WAPF provides through its website, journals, and presentations.
Donna Dodge, Chapter Leader Denmark, Maine
VACCINATION AGENDA FOR ADULTS
Check out this article in the Sep- tember issue of the AARP Bulletin, setting the stage for forced vaccination of older adults just as the stage has previously been set for children from birth to eighteen, and now into the college years: aarp.org/health/healthy-living/ info-2017/adult-vaccinations-risk-fd. html.
First, vaccination laws targeted the helpless infants and toddlers who couldn’t verbalize what was happening inside their brains and bodies post-vaccination. Next, they targeted school-age children, and now college- age young adults, withholding school entrance and sometimes medical care from them unless they comply with scores of extremely dangerous, health- destroying, life-shortening vaccines. At the same time, they forced numerous vaccines on all military personnel, denying them the most fundamental freedoms of self autonomy and bodily integrity, while at the same time telling them they are putting their lives on the line in order to protect and uphold our “freedom” in America. Most recently, they targeted babies in the womb, lying to their pregnant mothers by telling them they must have multiple vaccines during their pregnancies in order to
4
Letters
protect their developing babies.
Now, they are targeting older adults (already happening in hospitals and elder-care facilities, and of course, at each and every doctor visit). Soon, doctors will be kicking out seniors who refuse vaccinations, and Medicare and health insurance companies will no doubt soon require vaccinations as a
prerequisite for coverage.
Young and middle-aged adults, you
are the last bastion—and you will be next. There will be no driver’s license or passport renewals for you soon, no health insurance coverage unless you comply, nor will you be allowed to travel, maybe not even shop. Yes, it is coming. Unless we put a stop to it.
It appears that it is going to get worse before it gets better, if it ever gets better. Time will tell. We are living in tyrannical times. Don’t be deceived that we are living in “the land of the free.” When the powers that be dictate that heinous concoctions, by the score, and with no liability, be injected into your children, your aging parents, and you, you are not free.
Laura Hayes Granite Bay, California
A GRANDMOTHER’S TESTIMONIAL
This was a testimonial I published on the Nourishing Our Children blog, and hoped it may inspire others!
Becky Audet Comeau explains that this photo was captured (next page) “when food was food and we grew almost everything we ate, and food was homemade. My parents also drove ten miles round-trip to buy raw milk. This would have been 1953 or so.
I’ll be sixty-eight in a few weeks which proves it’s never too late to start, or go back to what you knew as a child.” Today, Becky posted in our Nourished Children forum on Facebook, and her words moved me to tears. I’ve been supporting community members like her for twelve years and this is what makes it all worthwhile.
Becky continues: “I so appreciate this group and I have learned so much! Thank you all for the things that you contribute. Our dietary habits have changed one hundred eighty degrees and we are all the healthier for it. I am an active grandmother in my eight- year-old grandson’s life, and now fix him a wonderful breakfast every day of sausage and farm eggs cooked in a tablespoon of excellent butter. That plus a spoonful of cod liver oil and a glass of raw milk and he is off to school. He is looking and feeling healthier and his eczema and other skin conditions have completely cleared up. I also make his school lunch now and pack healthy nu- tritious foods in it. We do give him the option of school hot lunch maybe once a month, and in printing that menu today, I saw that the children have an option of either lowfat or 1 percent milk. It made my blood boil to see how government interference has negatively affected the school lunch programs. Our refrigerator is filled with whole raw milk that we get here in Colorado Springs and we are so blessed to have this.”
She went on to add: “You have influenced me deeply and I’ve subse- quently been able to influence others. I know now this message is carried one-by-one to those who are willing to dig for information and challenge
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

the SAD [Standard American Diet]. It’s work to change deeply embedded ways and ideas. Just for the fun of it, I made a list of the things and foods we have changed. It’s now over thirty-five things. Some small, like the kind of salt we buy. Some are huge, like the water purification system and shower filters we installed. The goal is gut health and complete health. I could not have done it without you.”
When and how did you learn about us, I asked? “A few years ago I lived in Florida and was attending, a nutrition talk at a local chiropractor’s office. He was all about the Weston A. Price Foun- dation teachings and was attending their seminars. I thought it was great and true information but did not fully grasp the importance of it all. My life got crazy and I backslid. Fast forward to last October. In complete desperation
Letters
with obesity, I joined Weight Watchers. I did well but soon became disillusioned with the fake food and the empty nutrition they espouse. I started searching
followed the trail of breadcrumbs and became a student of the Weston A. Price Foundation and its teachings. The information and assistance is all there but you have to be willing to cleanse your mind of all of the misinformation. By the way, I’ve now lost fifty-five pounds and I’m loving the butter.”
I think that is a positive note to end
and saw something that triggered what I had learned in Florida. So we revisited the WAPF info and jumped in. I just
NUTRITION AND DISEASE IN SRI LANKA
It would come as no surprise to most Wise Traditions readers that over the past few decades the “displacing foods of modern commerce” have found their way into the homes of families in Sri Lanka. The correspond-
on!
Sandrine Perez, Founder Nourishing Our Children Portland, Oregon
1. No processed food, everything is homemade
2. Raw milk from a local farmer
3. Farm eggs from a different local farmer
4. Organic everything including bananas
5. Grass-fed beef (we bought a split quarter from a local rancher)
6. Organic chicken, locally obtained
7. No more supermarket meats at all (actually buy
little from supermarkets in general)
8. Eating liver and lots of it
9. Organic butter and lots of it
10. No artificial or vegetable oils
11. Using avocado or olive oil
12. Lard for pie crust (no Crisco)
13. Organic flour (no Roundup) and sprouted when
I can get it
14. Butter in baked goods
15. Heat-popped organic popcorn
16. Discontinued use of microwave (threw it out)
17. No sugary cereals; limit grains in general
18. Emphasis on low sugar food in general
19. No Fake Food [Emphasis is Becky’s]
20. No fast food
21. Homemade ice cream
22. Plain, organic, full-fat yogurt or homemade 23. No more orange juice or juice of any kind 24. Making fermented foods
25. Kombucha
26. Bone broths
27. Locally or single obtained honey, maple syrup, olive oil 28. Grinding coffee beans, Parmesan cheese, other cheeses,
bread
29. Discontinued use of antibacterial soap
30. Using natural-based soaps (olive)
31. Avoiding chemicals in personal and skin care products 32. Discontinued use of most commercial toothpaste, and
nothing with fluoride
33. Homemade almond milk
34. Nothing GMO
35. Water filters in showers
36. Water purifier for drinking water
37. Threw out my cookware and replaced them with cast iron
BECKY AUDET COMEAU’S LIST
WINTER 2017
Wise Traditions
5

ing decline in nourishing whole foods has been exacerbated by almost thirty years of civil war, which has disrupted agriculture and the passing down of nutritional wisdom.
Since war ended in 2009, glyphosate, synthetic fertilizer and other chemicals, previously restricted since they could be used for bomb-making, have been aggressively promoted and are now used extensively. Prior to the war, Mannar district in the country's northwest, was one of the “rice bowls” of Sri Lanka. Now that there is peace, agriculture is fast recovering. However, there is widespread dependence on herbicides and pesticides. Sadly though, there is a dramatic increase in the incidence of cancer, diabetes, kidney and heart disease—this, in a country whose cuisine features such healthy ingredients as coconuts, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and gotu cola.
A few large non-government organisations (NGOs) operated in Sri Lanka and helped to relieve the devastion wreaked by the Boxing Day tsunami (2004) and the culmination of civil war, but they have now left. Bridging Lanka is a small NGO that has several community development projects operating at the grassroots level in Mannar, employing ten local people and benefiting from overseas volunteers. The organization has recently influenced four farmers to al- locate half an acre each to trial organic food production. They have also started a catering business with war widows. The focus is on preparing healthy traditional food to earn income, but they have also conducted workshops to raise awareness of nutrition and how to prepare wholesome meals for the wider
6
Letters
community.
What Bridging Lanka needs now
is people with expertise who can assist with nutrition awareness and who can help create a model of nutrition education that can be replicated in other Sri Lankan communities. Just as a Maasai elder reached out to WAPF for input a couple of years ago, so is Bridging Lan- ka, on behalf of the Sri Lankan people, who are noticing a sharp increase in the incidence of chronic disease and disability. Those with expertise, com- passion and a sense of adventure—we call upon you to lend a hand. For more information and contact details see bridginglanka.org or email: director@ bridginglanka.org
Nigel Sloss Brisbane, Australia
FLUORIDE EXPERIENCE
I’d like to share first-hand my
my experience with fluoride. When I would get out of bed in the mornings I could hardly walk the six feet to my bathroom. The bones in my feet felt like they could crumble at any time. It was very painful to walk.
Then one day while perusing Face- book I read an article about the dangers of taking fluoride. I checked and found that the anti-depressant I was on was full of fluoride. I immediately stopped taking it and within three or four days I could feel a noticeable improvement in my feet. Within seven to ten days I was walking without any pain.
I did some research on the internet and found an article stating that fluoride causes skeletal fluorosis, which is often misdiagnosed as osteoporosis. It stated that doctors are not taught anything about this condition in med school.
I took all the info to a young doctor who was only out of med school eight months and he had never heard of it before.
It pays to research every medication that your doctor provides to you. It could be causing you more harm than good.
Karen Dahle Holyrood, Newfoundland, Canada
GcMAF CONCERNS
In the Fall 2017 issue of Wise
Traditions, Lee Emerson reported on a method to make GcMAF yogurt. Reviewing the literature on this subject, one quickly discovers that the majority of the research with GcMAF is with a lab-produced purified form of GcMAF or a human serum-derived version, both of which are administered intramuscu- larly.
There is a third compound called bovine or colostrum MAF whereby bovine colostrum is enzymatically processed to form a macrophage activating factor. Although there is one human case study administering oral bovine MAF as part of a larger treatment protocol (that also included injected human serum GcMAF), the only paper that provides a methodology for manufacturing and assaying bovine MAF is a mouse study in which the finished product was injected directly into the mouse small intestine.
To my knowledge, no other paper discusses an orally active form of Gc- MAF that has been verified by assay. Even if it were present, we have no randomized controlled clinical trials documenting an anticancer effect. Al- though we can measure a decrease in nagalase and report on an increase in
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

quality of life in human case studies, the anticancer benefits of an orally active form of GcMAF as bovine MAF remain speculative. Furthermore, the method with which to make bovine MAF, as detailed in the research literature, bears no resemblance to the recipe reported in this article and on related websites.
I am hopeful that dairy ferments may be a source of orally active Gc- MAF, but until we have a testable and repeatable protocol in place, there is insufficient evidence to claim that a specially prepared form of yogurt or kefir contain GcMAF.
Please see EastTroyAcupuncture. com/GcMAF for a comprehensive article on the subject with linked references.
Brandon LaGreca, CAc, MAcOM Chapter Leader East Troy, Wisconsin
IODINE DEFICIENCY
Thank you for your issue on cancer
Letters
(Fall 2017). I would also like to recommend the website, breastcancerchoices. org which looks at iodine deficiency as a factor in many breast tumors. I’ve personally seen lumps go away in a couple of days with iodine and a little cream that they recommend. They used to (and may still) send a free kit to have iodine tested for anyone diagnosed with breast cancer.
Isabella Smith Bowie, Maryland
HOW MUCH SUN EXPOSURE?
In the article, “Cholesterol Sul- fate and the Heart” (Summer 2017), Stephanie Seneff, PhD, reviewed her hypothesis that UVB rays from the sun synthesize cholesterol sulfate from dietary sulfur and cholesterol, and that the synthesized soluble cholesterol sulfate is essential for decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Accordingly, Dr. Seneff recommends eating foods rich in sulfur and advises readers to “get plenty
of sun exposure to the skin without sunscreen.” Sunscreen interferes with synthesis of cholesterol sulfate by sup- pressing sunlight catalysis; in addition, the aluminum content of sunscreen interferes with cholesterol sulfate synthesis.
Other chemicals interfere with cholesterol sulfate synthesis, including glyphosate, the active ingredient in the pervasive herbicide Roundup. A strong correlation has been found between the increased percentage of hospital patients admitted for heart failure and increased application of glyphosate to corn and soy crops. Dr. Seneff also believes that use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may increase risk of heart failure.
Accordingly, Dr. Seneff recommends eating only certified organic foods and avoiding use of statin drugs. The hypothesis that cholesterol sulfate synthesized by the skin is important to heart and blood pressure functions makes sense. Dietary garlic, which is
INTEGRITY IN SCIENCE AWARD
Sally Fallon Morell presents the prestigious Mary G. Enig Integrity in Science Award to a very surprised Zöe Harcombe, PhD.
Previous Integrity in Science Award winners include: Tetyana Obuykhanych, PhD (2016)
Beverly Rubik, PhD, and Allan Savory (2015) Chris Masterjohn, PhD (2014)
Andrew Wakefield, MD (2013)
Stephanie Seneff, PhD (2012)
Fred Kummerow, PhD (2011)
Nicholas Gonzalez, MD (2010)
WINTER 2017
Wise Traditions
7

rich in organosulfur compounds, has been recognized for centuries for its health benefits including reduction of multiple factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Geographical data show an inverse association between sunlight availability and cardiovascular disease that apparently is unrelated to vitamin D. The recommendations to avoid use of sunscreen, eat only certified organic foods and avoid statin drugs also make sense. I plan to try my best to follow all of these recommendations.
However, Dr. Seneff’s advice to “get plenty of sun exposure to the skin” is questionable in my opinion because of potential skin cancer resulting from excessive sun exposure. Over the past two decades I have had many skin cancer surgeries due to earlier excessive sun exposure, so I have avoided significant sun exposure. During that time I have relied on vitamin D supplements to meet vitamin D requirements. Dr. Seneff’s article made it clear that some sun exposure for synthesis of cholesterol sulfate is essential for good health, but the question of how much sun exposure is required for cholesterol sulfate synthesis was not addressed.
Dr. Seneff’s article mentioned the fact that the low risk of heart attacks as well as extended life expectancy in Iceland, Japan and Crete has been attributed to sulfur-rich soil and water derived from sulfur-containing volca- nic basalt rock. Inasmuch as Iceland is located far north (65 degrees latitude) where sun availability is low during much of the year, it seems reasonable to conclude that cholesterol sulfate synthesis by the skin does not require a lot of sun exposure when sulfur intake
8
Letters
is adequate. Accordingly, it is my hypothesis that the amount of sun necessary for adequate vitamin D synthesis is probably sufficient for synthesis of cholesterol sulfate. I have therefore attempted to determine how much sun exposure is needed to produce 1000 IU of vitamin D, the amount which is probably necessary for an old man of eighty-three years.
The gap between beneficial UV exposure to obtain desirable vitamin D and harmful exposure leading to erythema (skin damage) is very narrow when the sun is high on a summer day. A minimal erythemal dose (MED) is defined as the amount of UVB radiation that produces perceptible pinkness in the skin, which is considered to be the beginning of skin damage. One MED is equivalent to an oral intake of some- where in the range of 10,000 to 25,000 IU vitamin D. In Boston at the spring equinox (noon, March 19) exposure of one fourth MED in those with type 2 skin exposing face, neck hands and arms (25.5 percent of skin area) yields a dietary equivalent vitamin D dose of about 1000 IU in about 10 minutes, whereas a MED (and possible skin damage) occurs in about 40 minutes. If legs are also exposed under the same conditions, the time for production of 1000 IU is reduced to four minutes. Obviously, sun exposure required to synthesize vitamin D, and most likely cholesterol sulfate as well, does not require a lot of time (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC3257661).
A study in Australia addressed the problem of insufficient levels of vitamin D which contribute to the development of osteoporosis—costing almost two billion dollars per year in direct
medical costs in Australia—versus the problem of excessive sun exposure, which results in about half of the Aus- tralian population experiencing skin cancer during their lifetime. Australian guidelines for recommended vitamin D intake are 200 IU/day from birth to fifty years of age, 400 IU/day for people fifty to seventy years, and 600 IU/day for those over seventy-one years. It was estimated that UV exposure required to produce 1/6 to 1/3 the erythemal dose is sufficient to meet Australian vitamin D recommendations. The amount of UV exposure required by those with type 2 skin and 15 percent of skin exposed (face, hands and neck) for adequate vitamin D synthesis was estimated at 10:00, 12:00 and 3:00 in seven Aus- tralian cities located between 19 to 38 degrees latitude. The UV exposure that results in a MED was also estimated. Because of the increased risk of skin damage that occurs at 12:00, the authors of the Australian study recommended avoiding exposure between the hours of 10:00 and 3:00 and advise “extreme care” when getting UV exposure near high noon. The data provided in the study can be used to estimate the amount of sun exposure required for vitamin D synthesis in areas of similar latitude in the U.S.
The recommendation in the Aus- tralian study to avoid sun exposure between 10:00 and 3:00 reduces risk of skin damage only modestly during warmer months. Further, exposure of only 15 percent of skin used in the study
Gifts and bequests to the Weston A. Price Foundation will help ensure
the gift of good health
to future generations.
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

poses unneeded risk since increasing exposure to about 60 percent of skin area decreases sun exposure required for vitamin D synthesis by a factor of four. Perth, Australia, one of the cities in the study, is about the same latitude as my home in Baldwin County, Alabama. Data from Perth suggest that during the hottest six months of the year in Baldwin County the average time required to synthesize 1000 IU of vitamin D is about 2 minutes at noon and3.7minutesat9AMand3PMfor those with type 2 skin with 60 percent of skin exposed. The time required for absorption of one MED of UV which may cause skin damage is about 11 minutes at noon and 14 minutes at 9 AM and 3 PM (MJA, Volume 184 Number 7, 3 April 2006).
The data also suggest that in Bald- win County, Alabama, limiting sun ex-
Letters
posure to times when the sun’s altitude is about 30 degrees (early morning or late afternoon) can produce 1000 IU of vitamin D in ten to fifteen minutes in those with type 2 skin (including me) with 60 percent of skin area exposed. Under those conditions, the time for sun damage to begin (one MED) increases to about one hour. I don’t think such exposure would meet Dr. Seneff’s advice to “get plenty of sun exposure to the skin” but such exposure is apparently sufficient to synthesize 1000 IU of vitamin D, and I expect will also produce adequate cholesterol sulfate.
Dr. Seneff’s hypothesis regarding the association between cholesterol sulfate synthesis in the skin activated by sun exposure and cardiovascular disease is very convincing. Dr. Seneff’s recommendations to consume foods high in sulfur, eat only organic
foods to prevent the toxic effects of glyphosates, and avoid sunscreen and cholesterol-lowering statins all make sense and have no associated downside. In contrast, the recommendations to “spend significant time outdoors” and “get plenty of sun exposure to the skin” may result in a high risk of skin and eye damage. To the best of my knowledge there is no reason to believe that sun-activated synthesis of cholesterol sulfate in skin requires more sun exposure than is required for adequate vitamin D synthesis. It is my hypothesis that the sun exposure required for adequate vitamin D synthesis, which can be obtained during early and late hours of the day when risk of sun damage is reduced, is sufficient for synthesis of cholesterol sulfate.
Jack Cameron Fairhope, Alabama
Winners of the coveted WAPF Activist Award, with Sally Fallon Morell: Kris Johnson, Diane Ives, Becca Griffith, Susie Zahratka, Katie Williamson, Andrew Gardner, Nancy Eason and Susie Hagemeister.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions 9

PURE VINDICATION
Earlier this year (Spring 2017), we reported on a talk by Dr. Salim Yusif at Cardiology Update 2017, a symposium presented by the European Society of Cardiology (youtube.com/ watch?v=RwGteseHyas). Yusif gave us a taste of the data from the PURE study, a large ongoing epidemiological study carried out in eighteen countries. Well, the results are in and they are definitely not politically correct. The PURE study looked at the dietary intake of over one hundred thirty-five thousand individuals over seven years. During this period the participants suffered almost six thousand deaths and almost five thousand major cardiovascular disease events. Higher carbohydrate intake—not higher fat intake—was associated with an increased risk of total mortality while higher intake of total fat and higher intake of each type of fat was associated with lower risk of total mortality. Higher saturated fat intake was associated with lower risk of stroke. Total fat and saturated and unsaturated fats were not significantly associated with risk of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular disease mortality. The researchers concluded: “Global dietary guidelines should be reconsidered in light of these findings” (Lancet 4 Nov 2017:390 (10107);2050-2062). They certainly should! (But don’t hold your breath for changes any time soon.)
POPULATION IMPLOSION
If you were in college in the late 1960s (as I was), you may remember posters for Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 bestseller, The Population Bomb, which predicted that by the year 2000, we would be eating dogs and children and living on the moon due to lack of space on earth. The message of those posters was clear: college students should not burden the earth by having children. Ehrlich’s book had a similar message to that of eugenicist Thomas Malthus, who predicted that the world would run out of food by 1890. Now scientists are waking up to the real population crisis—that half the world’s nations have fertility rates below the replacement level of just over two children per woman. If recent trends continue, Germany and Italy, for example, could see their populations cut in half within the next sixty years. The consequences of a world in which children are rarities are dire—with huge amounts of resources taken up with care of the elderly (already a reality in Japan), economic downturn and a decline in innovation
(New Scientist, Nov 16, 2017). Researchers are blaming prosperity, the availability of birth control, the Internet and many other factors for the population decline, while ignoring the most obvious one: the worldwide replacement of animal fats with vegetable oils. Drs. Price and Pottenger predicted this population implosion years ago. They knew that animal fats support fertility while vegetable oils do not.
GUT FLORA AND AUTISM
Not only are we having fewer children, but so many of the precious children we are having suffer from autism and related disorders. A new study has found that an altered intestinal microbiome results in impaired social behavior in mice. Specifically, when a type of bacteria that produces bile acids and contributes to tryptophan metabolism is reduced, the result is marked gastrointestinal dysfunction and behavior that mirrors autistic conduct in humans. These results point to the many factors in the modern environment that can ad- versely affect gut flora: vaccinations, genetically engineered food, glyphosate, C-sections, a hyperclean environment and lack of lacto-fermented foods.
ALUMINUM AND AUTISM
An explosive new study has found that the levels of aluminum in the brains of autistic individuals are consistently high—some of the highest values for aluminum in human brain tissue yet recorded. The aluminum was found in the neurons but also “intracellularly in microglia-like cells and other inflammatory non-neuronal cells in the meninges, vasculature, grey and white matter.” In other words, the toxic metal was everywhere (Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 40 (2017) 30–36). There is only one way the aluminum could have gotten into the brain in such quantity—by injection directly into the blood through vaccination. Our body has many mechanisms (including gut flora) to prevent the absorption of aluminum in food and water.
SEIZURES AFTER MMR
Vaccination proponents argue that the dangers from measles far outweigh the dangers of the vaccine. But a letter from Shira Miller, president, Physicians for Informed Consent published in the British Medical Journal presents a dissenting view. Miller notes that a large 2004 Danish study published
Caustic Commentary
Sally Fallon Morell takes on the Diet Dictocrats
10 Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that the risk of febrile seizures after an MMR vaccination is one in six hundred forty, a five-fold higher risk of febrile seizure than the risk of seizure from measles. Applying this number to the 3.64 million U.S. children receiving the MMR vaccination every year results in about five thousand seven hundred MMR-related seizures annually. A large 2007 epidemiological study found that 5 percent of febrile seizures result in epilepsy. Miller concludes: “There is insufficient evidence that mandatory measles vaccination results in a net public health benefit (bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5104/rr-13).
IN UTERO FLUORIDE EXPOSURE
Pregnant women should be careful about drinking fluoridated water. That’s the conclusion of a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives (September 2017:125(9)), which found a drop in scores on intelligence tests for every 0.5 milligram-per-liter increase in fluoride exposure beyond 0.8 milligrams per liter found in urine. The researchers found no significant influence from fluoride exposure on brain development once a child was born. The scientists noted that “Community water, salt, milk, and dental products have been fluoridated in varying degrees for more than 60 years to prevent dental caries, while fluoride supplementation has been recommended to prevent bone fractures.” Pregnant women need to take extra precautions to avoid these sources of fluoride.
U.S. READING SKILLS PLUMMET
Reading scores of U.S. fourth-graders have been declining over the past few years. The U.S. ranked fifth in the world in 2011 but now has dropped to thirteenth place, with the biggest drop in students “in schools with higher free- and reduced-lunch rates, a rough proxy for poverty.” Martin West, an education professor at Harvard University notes that “efforts to improve educational outcomes for the most challenged students are not paying off” (Washington Post, December 5, 2017). Of course, professors of education are looking in all the wrong places to explain the decline. It has nothing to do with “educational efforts” and everything to do with the damage inflicted on our childrens’ vulnerable brains by vaccinations, fluoridated water and lowfat, high-sugar diets as typified in free- and reduced-rate school lunches.
MUMPS OUTBREAK
A recent article about a mumps outbreak at three Washing- ton, DC universities caught my eye. The article noted that officials are taking steps to control the infectious disease by moving infected students to a separate unoccupied space and suspending offering the chalice at communion. Conspicuously absent from the article was any mention of vaccination—presumably because all the infected students were already vaccinated. The article also lists as symptoms “fever, headaches and swollen and tender glands under the ears.” The report made no mention of the really serious side
Caustic Commentary
POPULAR EXHIBITORS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017
Elaine Boland of Fields of Athenry Farm donated gallons of delicious bone broth to the conference, including rich beef stock served at the banquet dinner.
Ruthie Wetzel and Dr. Jie Zhang at the busy Green Pasture Products booth.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions
11

effect in young men—painful swelling of the testicles, often leading to permanent sterility. This is what happens when through vaccination, you don’t allow boys to get the mumps when they are young (Washington Post, November 6, 2017).
OUR TOXIC WORLD
The number of chemicals applied to vegetables sold in supermarkets has increased by up to seventeen-fold over the past forty years, according to data presented at a conference organized by the Epidemiology and Public Health Section of the Royal Society of Medicine in London, November 20 of this year. Even worse, regulators test only the single active ingredient in pesticide formulations, and not the many adjuvants added to enhance the effectiveness of the active ingredients. No one is looking at the combined effects of these pesticide formulations, or the results of exposure to multiple pesticides. Pesticides are linked to hormone disruption, low sperm quality, miscarriage and decreased fertility. Exposure to very low doses of the Roundup herbicide—far below the permitted levels—caused non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats. Today about 25 percent of the population in the U.S. and Europe suffers from NAFLD. Big Ag argues that it is impossible for farmers to manage without pesticides, a view contested by the final speaker at the conference, Peter Melchett. Melchet has been an organic farmer for nineteen years and was a conventional farmer before that. He reported that since converting to organic, he has only had to spray a single field once—when he planted two related crops in the same field two years in a row. Farmers like Melchett use crop rotation, barrier methods against pests, cultivating hedge rows and planting cover crops to minimize the need for pesticides and herbicides (http://gmwatch.org/en/news/ latest-news/17988).
VITAMIN A FROM LIVER
In these pages, we like to keep our readers up to date on any research involving vitamin A. But I recently stumbled on a 1994 paper that compared the results from taking a retinol supplement (either orally or as an injection) with eating liver. Those given the supplement had higher plasma concentrations of retinyl palmitate compared to those who ate liver, but they also had much higher levels of all-trans retinoic acid in their blood. All-trans retinoic acid is considered to be the teratogenic form of vitamin A—the form that causes birth
defects. Said the researchers: “Advice to pregnant women on the consumption of liver based on the reported teratogenicity of vitamin A supplements should be reconsidered” (Human & Experimental Toxicology (1994) 13, 33-43). In other words, pregnant women should eat liver rather than take vitamin A supplements.
MORE DEATHS WITH STATINS
Even conventional scientists have to admit that evidence that taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs is “sparse and conflicting,” particularly for patients aged seventy-five and older. Even worse, new evidence indicates that taking statins may make you more at risk for dying. Researchers at the division of geriatric medicine and palliative care, New York University, performed a secondary analysis of data from the ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack) trial. Earlier researchers claimed that the group taking statins had lower all-cause mortality, but that is not what the New York University researchers found. They focused on twenty-eight hundred older participants who had hypertension and “moderate hypercholes- terolemia” but no atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at baseline. Half received the statin pravastatin and the other half had no statin “therapy.” After six years there were one hundred forty-one deaths in the pravastatin group versus one hundred thirty in the control group. “This represents a nonsignificant trend toward increased mortality with statin therapy. The results were similar, with pravastatin providing no significant benefit regarding coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and cancer events” (Cardiology News, May 24, 2017). Moral: when your doctor offers you a statin, just say No!
Caustic Commentary
FOR SCIENTISTS AND LAY READERS
Please note that the mission of the Weston A. Price Foundation is to provide important information about diet and health to both scientists and the lay public. For this reason, some of the articles in Wise Traditions are necessarily technical. It is very important for us to describe the science that supports the legitimacy of our dietary principles. In articles aimed at scientists and practitioners, we provide a summary of the main points and also put the most technical information in sidebars. These articles are balanced by
others that provide practical advice to our lay readers.
12 Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

The HPA Axis
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal An Introduction to the Major Hormones that Operate and Maintain the Body
By Karen Lyke, MS, CCN, DSc, CGP
Life is a continuum of constant change. The body, the vessel that houses us in the course of life’s journey, is in a constant state of adaptation and adjustment. In addition to the changes from conception, birth and childhood, puberty, to maturity, senescence and death, the body has diurnal and seasonal rhythms, as well as others with cosmic forces far beyond our present earthly cognizance. It responds to stimuli and interactions with the external environment as well as to fluctuations and changes within itself.
Reception and response to external stimuli connect us with the world around us. Internal processing of such input serves to shape and clarify who we are, how we interact with the world, and what we give back to it.
WINTER 2017
Wise Traditions 13

The tissues affected by the endocrine axis comprise all those of the body, in a semi- hierarchical system.
The process of maintaining constancy amidst change is called homeostasis. Ho- meostasis is coordinated most obviously via the neurotransmitters of the nervous system and the hormones of the endocrine axis. The endocrine axis has correspondences with the
1 chakras of Eastern spiritual disciplines but
modern Western medicine has simplified this to the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) Axis. The HPA axis continually assesses what’s happening in the body, gives feedback, and calls for appropriate action, using hormones as its messenger molecules.
Hormones are the messenger molecules that coordinate and direct immediate adjustments, diurnal rhythms and the longer transitions across the stages of life: infancy, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence and death. They work in coordination with neurotransmitters.
The key difference between hormones and neurotransmitters is that hormones are generated by specific glands.2 The hormones are conveyed through the bloodstream on protein carrier molecules to their target organs, where they are received by specific cellular receptors.
Neurotransmitters travel essentially as electrical impulses directly from neurons (nerve cells) to other neurons or to muscle cells, usually a shorter distance, moving instantaneously, much more rapidly than hormones, and without particular (or obvious) rhythms.
THE HPA HIERARCHY
The HPA endocrine axis is based on the
components that currently get the most attention in Western medicine, and addresses interactions among the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. The tissues affected by the endocrine axis comprise all those of the body, in a semi-hierarchical system. In this system, the “general” (the hypothalamus) perceives, oversees and assesses everything going on in the body, then informs its “officer lieutenants” in the pituitary gland. The “officers” in the pituitary gland inform the “sergeants” (the target organs), who then enlist the “troops” (particular biochemical processes) in the relevant tissues or organs in the body. The enlisted or activated tissues include the visceral organs—heart,
lungs, intestines, kidneys, liver, pancreas (and their less publicized ancillary agents such as the gallbladder, spleen, blood vessels, etc.)—and the skeletal muscles.
The secretions or hormones from these glands thus have an effect on the entire body and its balance amidst constant input and response—thus maintaining homeostasis. It is an intricate and delicate system of feedback loops and checks and balances, affecting all the cells and tissues of the body, whose operation and processes it maintains both day to day and across the years.
The entirety of the endocrine system comprises the pineal gland, the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the thymus, the pancreas, the adrenal glands and the gonads—ovaries in women, testes in men. In this essay, the focus will be on the hypothalamus and the pituitary, and their key agents, the thyroid and adrenal glands, and to a lesser extent, the gonads or reproductive organs.
HOMEOSTASIS
Occupational therapist Maude LeRoux
describes beautifully in her book Our Greatest Allies3 the fundamental capacities exhibited by a being newly arrived in this world:
• Vestibular balance—a sense of uprightness or verticality
• A way to modulate the amount of sensory input allowed in
• A way to process what stimuli are allowed beyond one’s outer boundaries.
These are facets of homeostasis, and remind us that when someone doesn’t respond as we might expect, that person’s homeostatic mechanisms, especially the HPA axis, are probably fully occupied and don’t have room for anything more. In other words, it’s not malice; it’s simply a self-preserving physiological response. Often a homeostatic effort by the body is considered a disease or illness, which allopathic medicine commonly seeks to obstruct or eliminate. A more holistic perspective views imbalances such as fever as the body’s efforts to “burn out” some potentially toxic or extraneous substance. Similarly, digestive upsets—vomiting or diar-
14
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

rhea—or skin eruptions like rashes and warts are recognized as efforts to eliminate noxious substances.
In exploring the endocrine axis it can be daunting to keep track of so many terms, many of which seem similar, along with their corresponding abbreviations, and then try to remember their particular functions and the subtle differences and relationships among them! Most of the names are ancient language equivalents, mostly from Latin and Greek, simply meaning “that do-widget which is next to the thing-a-mabob.” The names are descriptions of function
or location. Pronunciation,
as a wonderful biology prof
instructed us decades ago, is
usually based on emphasizing
the least meaningful syllable
of the word.
A disturbance in any of
the organs or tissues4 in the
HPA or greater endocrine sys-
tem affects all of the glands
of the axis, eventually affect-
ing the entire body. In other
words, a thyroid problem is
not merely a thyroid problem,
nor is adrenal fatigue simply
an adrenal issue. An imbal-
ance or malfunction assumed
to be simply a disturbance in one area of the body really is a systemic problem, affecting the entire body. A fundamental tenet of therapeutic massage states: “it’s all connected.” While this understanding is fundamental with acupuncturists, neuromuscular therapists and craniosacral therapists, few allopathic medical practitioners take this assumption into consideration.
THE HYPOTHALAMUS
The hypothalamus of the HPA is located centrally in the cranium at
the floor of the cerebrum (brain), surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in close and continuous contact with freshly oxygenated blood from the aorta. It is at the crossroads of the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively), as well as circulatory flow, and thus monitors the most recent changes and conditions throughout the body. Information on external sensory input such as taste, smell, touch, sight and sound, as well as visceral responses arrive at the hypothalamus, apprising it of blood temperature and pH; solute content as osmotic pressure and barometric pressure; general and specific levels of amino acids, mineral levels and balance; and blood sugar (glucose and other) levels, concentrations of insulin and other hormones. In addition, the hypothalamus registers gastric motility, heart rate and contractions of the urinary bladder, along with circadian changes and the transforma- tions of the life cycle. The hypothalamus is indeed the central monitor and control center for the body.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions
Having assessed everything from both circulatory and nervous systems, the hypothalamus responds accordingly. Based on the information flowing through it, the hypothalamus dispatches individual hormones in two sets to the pituitary. One set inlcudes oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Both are synthesized in the hypothalamus, derived from the same proto-
typical protein. The two hormones travel, separately, to the posterior pituitary gland (also called the neuro- hypophysis) for storage, ready for release as directed. They both promote smooth muscle contraction. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, especially important for childbirth, then contracts the mammary glands for milk “let-down.” Oxytocin is known as the “love
hormone” because it also promotes instincts for cuddling and nurturing, as well as sexual arousal and orgasm.
ADH also goes by the name AVP or argi- nine vasopressin. It prompts contraction of the smooth muscles in arterioles and sweat glands, causing them to retain fluid. ADH also prompts the kidneys to retain water. The posterior pituitary releases ADH when blood pressure (BP) is low, and also in times of pain and exposure to drugs such as nicotine, morphine and bar- biturates, perhaps providing “dilution as the solution to pollution.” Excessive ADH release in the hypothalamus occurs with severe blood loss, trauma or other injury or abnormal cells such as cancer. Excessive ADH release with consequent excessive water retention is manifest as weight gain, bloating and hypo-osmolality of blood (that is watery blood or too much liquid and not enough minerals, blood cells, carrier molecules with cargo, or other dissolved content).
The other set of hormones from the hypothalamus comprises both releasing and inhibitory hormones. These go from a capillary bed
15

Hormones from the hypothalamus inform the pituitary that there’s work to be done.
in the hypothalamus, through a vein directly to a capillary bed in the anterior pituitary.5 They do not go through the systemic circulation, nor do they pass through the heart and lungs. They arrive directly at the anterior pituitary (also known as the adenohypophysis), where they convey their instructions to yet another set of hormones, the tropic hormones.
Hypothalamic-releasing hormones include:
• Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
• Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
• Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
• Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
• Prolactin (PRL).
Countering, or putting the brakes on the synthesis and release of tropic hormones from the anterior pituitary, are two additional hormones from the hypothalamus. These are inhibitory hormones:
• Growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH), also called somatostatin
• Prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH) also called dopamine.
THE PITUITARY
Hormones from the hypothalamus inform
the pituitary that there’s work to be done. Tropic hormones from the anterior pituitary then go out into the body to set the appropriate work- response into action.
The pituitary gland was in past years known as the master gland but lost that title as awareness of hypothalamus function increased. Current thinking is that the hypothalamus is the central controlling agent, whose role is to notify the pituitary to send out deputy messengers to the tissues (and the cells of which they are made), which do the actual work.
The pituitary gland rests in the sella turcica (Latin for Turkish saddle), a small indentation in the sphenoid bone. The sphenoid bone is notable because it comes into contact with every other bone of the cranium or skull. The significance of this is that any shift in position of the cranial bones affects the pituitary. Such a positional shift could come from obvious physical trauma
like a blow to the head, or from subtle shifts in the fascia.6
Dr. Weston A. Price, in his seminal work, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration,7 noted that vitamin E deficiency produced changes consistent with those of hypophysectomy (sur- gical removal of the pituitary gland). Down syndrome, prolonged gestation possibly with resorption of the fetus, incomplete calcification of the skull and degranulation of the anterior pituitary are all abnormalities Dr. Price was aware of in connection with vitamin E complex deficiency.
The anterior pituitary synthesizes and releases specific hormones in response to the arrival of releasing, or inhibitory, hormones from the hypothalamus. The anterior pituitary secretes:
• Somatotropins such as growth hormone (GH)
• Corticotropins such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Gonadotropins such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Lactotropins such as prolactin (PRL)
• Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).
SOMATOTROPINS
Somatotrophs are the most abundant cells
in the anterior pituitary. These anterior pituitary cells release somatotropic hormones (somatotropins), particularly GH (growth hormone or hGH for human growth hormone) in response to releasing GHRH from the hypothalamus. GH travels through the bloodstream to the tissues of the body, particularly the liver, skeletal muscle and cartilaginous structures such as fascia, joints and bones. In the pancreas, GH stimulates the release of glucagon, a hormone whose name means “glucose is all gone,” to activate a rise in blood sugar. In other tissues GH elicits synthesis and secretion of IGFs (insulin-like growth factors).
IGFs prompt cells to grow by activating uptake of both the increased glucose in the blood as well as of amino acids and their in- corporation as proteins8 into the substance of a tissue. In childhood and adolescence, the effect
16
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

is to promote growth. In adults, IGFs maintain muscle and bone mass and support tissue repair. In addition, IGFs promote lipolysis, release of fats (lipids) from adipocytes (fat cells), for use as fuel by the cells affected by GH. Interestingly, IGFs decrease uptake of glucose by those affected cells, giving preference to the use of fats for ATP production, sparing the glucose so that it can be used by the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain.9 Perhaps this is a factor in the difference between insulin and IGF.
Insulin is made and secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar. Unlike IGFs, which decrease the uptake of glucose by the cells, insulin's most prominent role is to deliver blood glucose to cells where it is used to generate energy as ATP. Insulin also facilitates entry of amino acids into cells and activates protein synthesis. Insulin is unlike most other hormones in that it is anabolic, that is, it promotes construction of substances, in contrast to catabolic agents which break substances down. Any excess glucose, or protein as amino acids, beyond what can be immediately used for fuel or construction, is either stored as glycogen or as fat.
This is a crucial point. It is not fat that makes a person fat; it is excess carbs. The body converts excess carbohydrates, particularly refined carbohydrates, to fat.
Insulin’s net effect is to lower blood sugar. If blood sugar is chronically and inordinately elevated, after a while the β-cells of the pancreas lose their capacity to secrete insulin and burn out, resulting in diabetes. This happens with constant consumption of refined sugars and starches. Continued fluctuation of blood sugar levels places exhausting demands on homeostasis and the entire hormone axis, and is profoundly stressful. The ensuing disorder then emerges as disease. Simply eliminating the symptoms, either by covering them up or blocking the metabolic pathways that generate them, does not cure the disease nor heal the person. Mere elimination of symptoms perpetuates the endocrine axis disarray, and in effect drives the disease deeper.
In a healthy, properly operating system, as blood levels of glucose rise, feedback to the hypothalamus inhibits GHRH and activates GHIH
WINTER 2017
(that is, somatostatin10). GHIH then instructs the somatotrophic cells of the anterior pituitary to cease producing and secreting GH.
Regulation of both GHRH and GHIH is through blood sugar (glucose) levels, with hyperglycemia inhibiting GHRH—as if to say “Enough already! Don’t promote any more growth!” Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, by contrast, has an inhibitory or suppressive effect on GHIH, and the net effect is to increase GHRH, hence GH, with consequently increased levels of blood glucose. Chronic or persistent excess of GH leads to constant hyperglycemia or elevated blood sugar. This in turn prompts the pancreas to secrete insulin, since blood sugar levels as well as fluid are closely regulated.
An excess or hypersecretion of GH affects the growth of tissues throughout the body but becomes most evident as excessive growth in the long bones, leading to abnormal height or gigantism, with acromegaly11—enlarged hands, feet and facial bones, coarse features and an enlarged tongue. Insufficient or hyposecretion of GH in children, by contrast, leads to pituitary dwarfism with adult height being about four feet, but with relatively normal proportions. While research is inconclusive, severe deficit of GH in children has been linked with progeria, where body tissues atrophy and accelerated aging ensues.12
Blood sugar as well as fluid content are both closely regulated. Homeostasis, the delicate balance to keep the complexities of the body running smoothly, can easily be disrupted if constant fluctuations and demands are imposed on it. Since GH summons the release of glucose from storage (as glycogen) in the liver and prompts the conversion of some proteins into glucose via gluconeogenesis,13 the current societal excess of dietary sugar is a conspicuous culprit in hormone imbalances and its various manifestations.
THYROTROPINS
TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone14)
from the hypothalamus stimulates the production and release of TSH by the anterior pituitary. TSH goes via the blood to the thyroid gland, situated in the anterior neck (in front of the throat). TSH then prompts the thyroid gland to
Homeostasis, the delicate balance to keep the complexities of the body running smoothly, can easily
be disrupted if constant fluctuations and demands are imposed on it.
Wise Traditions
17

In effect, the body recognizes the fact that if there isn’t enough selenium to make the protective GSH, there’s no point in converting T4 to active T3 because the cells can’t respond anyway.
make and release thyroxine.
Thyroxine or thyroid hormone (also called
T4) is made in the thyroid gland from four molecules of iodine added to tyrosine, an amino acid. T4 is what’s in Synthroid, but this is the inactive form of thryoid hormone. T4 is conveyed through the bloodstream to cells where it is converted to T3 , the active form of thyroxine, to get those cells working.15 In some ways T4 converted to T3 is like an accelerator: its role is to turn the cell’s machinery on. To do that, a specific iodine molecule needs be “chipped” off of the tyrosine template. Under stress, especially elevated cortisol, and other adverse conditions, the “wrong” iodine molecule is removed, leading to rT3, which occupies the site but cannot complete its mission of activating the cells’ functions; in other words, it’s a dud.
TSH is typically the hormone measured when thyroid problems are suspected, but it is only a small part of the whole picture. Elevated TSH means there is inadequate response from the cells when the thyroid summons T4 and T3 to work harder.
Nutrient deficiencies can underlie inadequate response. Tyrosine can be derived from another amino acid, phenylalanine; one or the other must come from the diet, as the body cannot make them from bodily resources. The net effect is that without phenylalanine or tyrosine, the material from which we generate thyroxine is missing. Adequate protein and robust digestive capacity are both necessary to ensure adequate amounts of this important substance. Vitamin A16 has a mutual relationship with iodine for generating thyroxine. In addition to iron and iodine, selenium is a necessary mineral cofactor for thyroid hormone synthesis, activa- tion and metabolism. When TSH is elevated and cells still fail to respond sufficiently, it’s quite likely that selenium is inadequate.
There’s an interesting nexus here. Assum- ing all other factors are in place, a cell will function as long as it has glutathione, abbreviated GSH, to capture free radicals given off when a cell is actively metabolizing. Glutathione is the body’s major antioxidant, the key agent to capture free radicals or ROS—reactive oxygen species. When a cell operates, it gives off ROS. If a cell continues to operate when it doesn’t
have enough GSH, the unfettered ROS “sparks” will cause damage to the cell itself, eventually damaging neighboring cells and tissues as well. Selenium is not only the mineral cofactor necessary to convert T4 to its active T3 form. Selenium is also necessary to produce GSH (glutathione). If it doesn’t have the necessary GSH, the cell either shifts to “emergency generator mode,” so at least it can stumble along until there’s enough GSH to keep it up and running, or it undergoes apoptosis. Apoptosis is deliber- ate cell death, whereby the cell sacrifices itself, dies and lets its parts be recycled for reuse. By taking damaged cells out of function, the tissue can keep operating (assuming the remaining cells have enough GSH) and not “burn the body” down by giving off unhindered free radicals.
The possible nexus here is that if a cell doesn’t have enough selenium to make the GSH, it probably also does not have enough selenium to convert T4 to active T3. In effect, the body recognizes that if there isn’t enough selenium to make the protective GSH, there’s no point in converting T4 to active T3 because the cells can’t respond anyway.
In addition, when a cell metabolizes fats (as fatty acids) to generate energy as ATP, the process is much more efficient than using glucose or sugar. It’s the difference between generating heat and light from a large log that burns for hours, and depending on scraps and twigs that flash and dissipate in the moment. Fats are also necessary for vitamin A to be absorbed. Again, iodine17 and vitamin A need each other for optimal absorption and use in thyroxine production. One could speculate that when the body recognizes a situation where it doesn't have all the materials necessary to function well, it doesn’t set itself up for a process it can’t sustain properly.
A complete discussion of thyroid function warrants volumes. Succinctly, when thyroid dysfunction is suspected, because the thyroid gland is part of a complex web of interacting tissues, the problem is not solely in the thyroid. An overall endocrine axis imbalance is highly likely, with autoimmune issues present as well. A complete thyroid panel is necessary to understand where and why the body’s homeostatic efforts are bogging down.18
18
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

Additional resources toward understanding the thyroid are listed in the endnotes.19
CORTICOTROPINS
CRH from the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to
make and release ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone, also called corticotropin), which goes to the adrenal glands and elicits a response according to need and receptor sensitivity.
The adrenal glands are small caps atop the kidneys, the name deriv- ing from Latin, meaning “of the kidneys.”20 The adrenal glands have two distinct areas to them. The interior area is closely related to the nervous system and is called
the adrenal medulla.
The outer part of the
adrenal glands is the
cortex or “crust.”
Corticotropins af-
fect the cortex of the
adrenal glands.
The adrenal cor-
tex has three layers.
The outermost is the
zona glomerulosa.
This is related to the
glomeruli of the kid-
neys, from the Latin,
“little balls of yarn,” referring to the extensive lengths of fine tubing that filter fluid, minerals and other solutes from the blood to generate urine. The zona glomerulosa has to do with regulating electrolyte and fluid balance. While controlled by ACTH (from the anterior pituitary), it lacks the enzymes21 necessary to provide the same response that ACTH summons from the other layers of the adrenal cortex. Here, in the zona glomerulosa, and only here, the mineralocorticoid aldosterone, is produced.
Aldosterone prompts the kidneys to retain sodium and excrete potassium. It works in conjunction with the renin angiotensin system and other factors, but the key point is that aldosterone prompts the kidneys to reabsorb sodium. Since water follows salt, aldosterone instructs the kidneys to keep the salt and hence the water, too. This maintains blood volume. Blood pressure depends on both the volume of the blood and the tension of the smooth muscles in the blood vessel walls. A rise in either will increase blood pressure.22
Secretion of aldosterone is activated in response to ACTH from the anterior pituitary (responding to CRH from the hypothalamus). Elevated or relatively high plasma (blood) potassium (hyperkalemia) and low blood volume are two factors that activate the release of CRH. Maintaining a proper balance of sodium and potassium is crucial to cell membrane response, hence cell function, thus indispensable for life. A lack of sodium (salt) or aldosterone can be fatal, as can an excess of potassium. The body goes through major and multiple efforts to maintain proper sodium and fluid balance. Both ADH from the hypothalamus and aldosterone from
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions
the adrenal’s outer layer, the zona glomerulosa, along with the renin angiotensin system in the kidneys, are constantly active to regulate electrolyte balance.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is often recommended for people with apparent adrenal issues. While licorice root can lengthen the time it takes the body to break down cortisol, it can also increase aldosterone levels so much as to severely disrupt the balance of sodium and potassium if ingested in excess.23
Historically, adequate access to salt, along with water, has been a driving force in civilization’s settlements and battles. Excess salt intake is easily avoided by not consuming processed packaged “foods of commerce.” An overall vitality-promoting balance of sodium, potassium and other
minerals is best obtained through nutrient-dense foods grown in mineral-rich and microbe-rich healthy soil, adding salt to taste as a conscious act.
Symptoms of low aldosterone include:
• Craving salt
• Fluid retention in the arms and legs
• Pupils not staying constricted when ex-
posed to light
• Rough or sandpaper tongue
• Excessive urination up to fifteen or twenty
times per day
• Excessive sweating even without activity.
People who crave chips and pretzels, who douse everything with salt, are prime suspects for adrenal problems and HPA or endocrine disruption in general.
The next two layers of the adrenal cortex, the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, are regulated by ACTH from the anterior pituitary. The zona fasciculata secretes glucocorticoids— essentially cortisol—and the innermost zona
19

reticularis secretes DHEA, androgens and estrogens—the sex hormones. Which hormone is activated depends on the nature of the enzymes present in the particular zone and the presence of other ancillary synergistic agents. In other words, it’s not a simple linear system, but one of complex cooperation and interaction.
All adrenal cortical hormones are generated from cholesterol. The adrenal cortex contains the highest concentration of cholesterol outside the nervous system. The brain is 70 percent lipids, including cholesterol. The adrenal cortex uses cholesterol to synthesize aldosterone, cortisol and DHEA, from which the sex hormones are made.
Cholesterol is so important to health that all tissues of the body24 are capable of generating it. When serum cholesterol is low, the body is severely limited in its capacity to repair and
renew itself. Limiting dietary cholesterol intake is futile, since the body will make as much cholesterol as it needs. Conversely, vegetarians or vegans, who argue that consuming cholesterol is not necessary, overlook the metabolic expense to the body of making cholesterol. Resources devoted to generating cholesterol are not available for other important roles, and health suffers. Low serum cholesterol is associated with cancer, depression and suicidal and homicidal tendencies. Dr. Price’s accounts of South Sea highland vegetarian groups cannibalizing their seacoast neighbors if denied access to seafood illustrate this important point.
Cortisol is the major hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, in a diurnal rhythm. Cortisol levels are highest in the morning, lowest at night, unless the endocrine axis is out of balance, as is the common case of “awake all night and sleepy all day.” Cortisol (hydrocortisone) is a glucocorticoid, meaning a cholesterol molecule enhanced with particular sugar25 molecules, and is crucial for life. Apparently all cells have glucocorticoid receptors, and thus can be activated by cortisol or a derivative to one extent or another.
Yes, cortisol is crucial for life. Its primary role is to ensure blood sugar stability, that is, a reliable energy supply so cells can carry out their
SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION
• FATIGUE: Cells aren’t getting reliable support for their function.
• SUGAR AND SALT CRAVINGS: “Maybe eating this will give my cells what they are craving!”
• CAFFEINE AND NICOTINE ADDICTIONS: “Please help my body wake up, function, settle down—argh!”
• SLOW MORNING START: “Where’s my coffee?” Sleep time is intended to afford reflection, putting things in order. Get to bed earlier for more effective renewal and restoration.
• LATE AFTERNOON CRASH: “Sweets and cola, or that good old Mountain Dew.”
• BETWEEN-MEAL EATING: Fat sustains; carbs, especially when refined, tantalize.
• DIZZINESS: According to traditional Chinese medicine, dizziness occurs when the liver is overworked, possibly a reflection of chaotic blood sugar fluctuations.
• HEADACHES: The liver isn’t caught up with cleanup from before, so now there are leftovers and clutter to deal with. One interpretation of migraines is that they are spasms due to irregular blood supply to brain tissues.
• ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA: No resources left to deal with strange substances, so just shoo them out as best you can by gasping, coughing, sneezing, sniffling.
• WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM: Too much for the body to deal with; lost track of which “other” substance is helping and which is likely to cause problems.
• INSOMNIA: Can’t fall asleep or can’t stay asleep. Inflammatory reactions spread throughout the body when something is awry.
• DIGESTIVE ISSUES SUCH AS BLOATING AND GAS: At least 70 percent of the immune system is in the gut. If preoc- cupied with external stimuli, bodily resources just aren’t there to process anything else.
• ULCERS: Even fewer resources are available to balance gut microbes and repair tissues.
• IRRITABILITY: Nerve cells drag or simply quit if they don’t have needed support (such as a consistent fuel supply as steady blood sugar or fats and their derivatives).
• BLURRED VISION: Another indication of irregular and erratic blood delivery of fuel and oxygen.
• MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES: Bodily self-preservation takes priority over providing for the next generation.
• GRUMPY-OLD-MAN SYNDROME: Sometimes called male menopause. The priority of self-preservation over providing for others isn’t gender-specific.
20
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

specific roles. Cortisol summons stored glucose from glycogen stored in the liver and muscles; at the same time it prevents muscle and adipose tissue from taking up glucose, sparing it for use by the brain and heart.
Even before birth, cortisol is necessary. It provides for the maturation of the surfactant of lungs in fetal development; without it, the newborn infant ends up in respiratory distress. Glucocorticoids, represented here by cortisol, have potent anti-inflammatory and immuno- suppressive properties, and thus are widely used for (temporary) relief of arthritis, dermatitis (eczema and rashes) and autoimmune diseases.
Mental, emotional and physical stress are all registered by the hypothalamus, which then informs the anterior pituitary to awaken the adrenal glands to rouse the particular tissues to action. Stress leads to breakdown of bodily tissues for use as fuel, specifically tissues that are high in collagen, since its main component amino acid, glycine, is readily converted to glucose. The effect is consumption of resources which ideally should be available for self-restoration. Instead those resources are directed to deal with external stimuli, resulting in joint deterioration and loss of collagen bone matrix, precursors to osteoporosis.
The most obvious effects of chronically elevated cortisol are disrupted carbohydrate metabolism—blood sugar imbalance—and impaired immune function. Both engender chronic inflammation, the perfect setup for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome generally mani- fests as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the two biggest health problems in modern western society.
Indicators of adrenal dysfunction, affected by cortisol imbalance, with commentary, are shown on page 20. Please note that many health issues that are attributed to adrenal dysfunction are really whole body imbalances. The hormones of the endocrine system are merely the messengers.
In addition to containing the richest store of cholesterol in the body, the adrenal glands hold the highest concentration of vitamin C complex. The indigenous folk of northern Canada knew this and shared the information with Dr. Price because he, unlike other white men they had
WINTER 2017
encountered, did not “know too much to ask the Indian.”26
Nutrients that support adrenal function thus include cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs, especially their yolks, from both fish and fowl; liver and adrenal glands; and full-fat dairy such as cream, butter and cheese. In addition, foods rich in vitamin C complex27 are important and are found in deeply colored fruits and vegetables, particularly the dark colored fruits of summer. Their antioxidant qualities protect from the intense oxidizing properties of the sun.
GONADOTROPHINS Gonadotrophic-releasing hormone (GnRH)
from the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to generate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), followed by luteinizing hormone (LH). These travel to the gonads—the reproductive organs in both men and women. FSH stimulates the production of estrogen and follicular development in the ovaries of women. LH then activates the release of the ovum as well as stimulating the production of progesterone—optimistic that the ovum (single egg) will be fertilized and need the differentiating and protective qualities of progesterone. The actions of FSH and LH are coordinated with the ebb and flow of estrogen(s) and progesterone in women’s menstrual cycles.
In men, FSH stimulates the development of spermatozoa,28 and LH stimulates the secretion of testosterone. Testosterone works in concert with FSH to complete spermatogenesis, the maturation of sperm. Testosterone also provides for the development of male secondary sex characteristics such as deepening of the voice, facial hair and increased muscle mass.
In addition to production in the ovaries and testes, respectively, the sex hormones are produced in the third, innermost layer of the adrenal cortex, the zona reticularis. Succinctly, DHEA is a cholesterol-based hormone from which androgens and estrogens are produced. DHEA also has a permissive effect. That is, its presence facilitates the production of neurotransmitters, which affect memory and mood. Neurotransmitter imbalances are more likely to occur when DHEA levels are less than optimal. Also, when DHEA is low, which happens after
Even before birth, cortisol is necessary. It provides
for the maturation
of the surfactant of lungs in fetal development; without
it, the newborn infant ends up in respiratory distress.
Wise Traditions
21

long bouts of chronic stress, overall resilience and immune response are compromised, and senescence is accelerated.
Androgens comprise androstenedione, testosterone, and its various derivatives such as DHT (dihydrotestosterone, which plays a role in male pattern baldness). Estrogen has at least three forms: estrone, estradiol and estriol. As noted above, each of these has particular functions both in reproduction as well as in day-today maintenance of the physical structure—all the changes across the lifetime journey.
Both men and women have some of each of the three major sex hormones29 (and their derivatives, not covered here), in gender-appropriate proportions. Testosterone supports libido and is especially important for maintenance of all types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth (lining arteries and glands) and cardiac. Increased risk of cardiac failure (heart attack) occurs with insufficient testosterone. Statin drugs interfere with the production of cholesterol, the key sub- strate from which testosterone is produced. It should be no surprise that muscle pain (myalgia), weakness (myopathy), and dissolution of tissue (rhabdomyolysis—tissue turning to “jelly”) are well-known side effects of taking statins.
LACTOTROPHINS
In response to GnRH from the hypothala-
mus, and in conjunction with relatively higher estrogen levels, the anterior pituitary generates and secretes prolactin. Prolactin (PRL) (“for milk” in Latin) activates mammary (breast) tissue to promote milk production; in general it affects reproductive and immune tissue. By itself it has a very weak effect, which makes sense because there is a sequence and relationship among the above hormones. Oral contraceptives, opiates and breastfeeding also all stimulate the release of PRL. In excess, it can be a causative factor in premenstrual breast ten- derness. Elevated levels of prolactin may cause amenorrhea—lack of menstrual cycles—appropriate when a woman is nursing a baby, but an indicator of endocrine imbalance when birth and breastfeeding are not in the picture. In men, elevated prolactin is consistent with erectile dysfunction. PRL is inhibited by PIH (prolactin inhibitory hormone, from the hypothalamus),
22
which again makes sense. PIH is dopamine, the get-up-and-go hormone and neurotransmitter. It’s difficult to tend the baby and the home fires when hormones are telling us to go slay dragons or embark on major external efforts.
MELANOCYTE-STIMULATING HORMONE
MSH stimulates the pineal gland to synthesize melanin. Melanin
is pigment that gives color to the skin and relates to light exposure with respect to the sun and attunement to the diurnal and seasonal rhythms of light and darkness.
PATTERNS AND CONNECTIONS
It’s easy for a description of the hormones to become massive and
overwhelming. Amidst the long, strange, unpronounceable words and complex descriptions, there is actually a pattern to the hormones of the endocrine axis.
GH (growth hormone) enlists IGF (and other substances) to build the physical substance.
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) notifies the thyroid gland to dis- patch thyroxine to activate the physical substance, the cells constituting the various component tissues and organs, in effect “turning it on” and in some cases “up.”
Corticotrophs provide support to sustain the organism’s efforts, specifically by ensuring appropriate balance of fluids, minerals and fuel. Thus established, the organism lines up its successor, making pro- vision for the next generation. FSH and LH prepare the seed and aid its
ripening. Prolactin provides nourishment.
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) relates back to the top gland
of the entire endocrine axis, the pineal gland, furnishing a link with the cosmos beyond the present corporeal and earthly existence. One could say that a living being, having established itself and its offspring on the earth, aligns via MSH and the pineal gland to establish a more extensive connection with the cosmos.
As MSH establishes a connection with the greater cosmos via the pineal gland, it then winds its way through the complexities and subtle distinctions of the endocrine axis to the lowest and “earthiest” set of glands, the gonads, affording humans a role as bridge between the grand scale of existence and the earth. In short, our endocrine system creates a bridge between two worlds.
MOTHER NATURE OBEYED
There is an electromagnetic force between the earth’s surface and the
ionosphere, the densest part of earth’s atmosphere, called the Schumann Resonance.30 The Schumann Resonance corresponds to that of alpha brain waves, which resonate at 7.83 Hz, and is said to correspond also to optimal function of the endocrine axis. The Vedic chanting of Om is said to reinforce this frequency, and with it one’s harmonious alignment within oneself (comfortable homeostasis) as well as with the cosmos beyond and the earth beneath our feet.
Obeying Mother Nature entails living with the rhythms and patterns
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

of the earth as a component of a greater cosmic system. My personal take on the adrenals in particular is that their primary role is to allot bodily resources toward self-preservation. In a balanced system, energies are distributed according to the old sailor’s tradition: one hand for the sailor, one hand for the ship. If a person is constantly on the go, expending attention and energy outwardly, responding to external stimuli, and constantly dealing with external stressors and demands, few resources are available to keep one’s internal relationships in harmonious order. The “hand for the sailor” is sacrificed to two hands for the ship and none for the sailor, exhausting the individual with the consequence of lost support for the “ship” or greater endeavor. Adrenal fatigue (or exhaustion or distress) is a sign of overall endocrine dysfunction. Just as humans tend not to thrive in isolation, the tissues and organs of their bodies neither exist nor function in isolation. It is all connected.
A healthy, whole and happy human being is connected with himself or herself through a smoothly flowing endocrine system. That in turn affords vibrant connection with community, as well as via the bridge from cosmos to earth. Resources are balanced between self and the outer world, between “the sailor and the ship.” While adequate nourishment is fundamental to optimal function, living consciously with the world around is also important. One of the best things a person can do to keep one’s endocrine axis flowing smoothly, affording energy for both “the sailor and the ship,” is to take time to rest, relax, be with friends, enjoy the arts, and above all, play.
Karen Lyke, MS, CCN, DSc, CGP has been studying the effects of food on human health ever since she was anorexic as a teenager. Her academic credentials include an MS in human nutrition, board certification as a clinical nutritionist (CCN), and a doctorate based on a study of the effects of oxalates in soy-based foodstuffs on human health. A Waldorf school graduate and certified in therapeutic massage, Karen has taught anatomy and physiology, as well as nutrition, to students of massage therapy, acupuncture and holistic health. She teaches online with Haw- thorn University and is a certified GAPS practitioner. A lifelong organic gardener, Karen and her husband now cultivate a nutrient-dense, pesticide- and GMO-free garden, with a few backyard chickens and ducks, in northwest Ohio.
REFERENCES
1. Bayne, Kim. (2016) Your 7 Chakras & the endocrine system. Retrieved 2017-11-19 from http://blog.thewellnessuniverse.com/your-7-chakras-the-endocrine-system/.
2. Glands are small sacks of smooth muscle lined with secretory cells. They release their contents upon specific stimulation, as messengers to themselves (autocrine), neighboring cells (paracrine), to the bloodstream in general (endocrine), or through ducts to another organ, such as pancreatic enzymes to the lumen of the small intestine.
3. LeRoux, Maude, and O’Malley, Lauren. (2012) Our Greatest Allies: Respect, Relation- ship and Intervention ... A Child’s Journey. Fort Collins, CO: A Book's Mind.
4. Cells are the basic unit of life. Many similar cells constitute a tissue. Several tissues, each of several different types of many cells, make up an organ. The several tissues constituting an organ all support a common purpose or role in the overall system of the organism or living body.
5. Tortora & Derrickson (2009) Anatomy and Physiology, 12th edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p 651.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions
6. Fascia is the connective tissue enveloping the entire body and all of its organs: smooth and skeletal muscles, the viscera (heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, intestines) and the bones. The fascia attaches to the outer and inner surfaces of the skull, including the meninges, the protective tissues surrounding the brain. Irregularities in the fascia can occur from various causes, including postural habits based on emotional responses or physical behaviors, and tend to be subtle. It is quite possible that the meridians of energy (chi) flow of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are a reflection of pathways in the fascia. Releasing the various contractions of the fascia through myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy, or structural integration (aka Rolfing) massage techniques has a distinct effect on a person’s emotional and physical well-being, indeed “changing one’s body about one’s mind.” Because of the pituitary’s location and these connections, such bodywork can be very beneficial toward restoring or optimizing endocrine axis function.
7. Price, Weston A. (2016) Nutrition and Physical Degen- eration 8th Edition 23rd Printing. Lemon Grove, CA: Price Pottenger, pp 304-305; 331.
8. Amino acids are the building blocks from which proteins are constructed, or synthesized.
9. Tortora & Derrickson (2009) Anatomy and Physiology 12th edition John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p 653.
10. Somatostatin from Latin: soma – body, and stat – halt or status; as in static, not moving.
11. Acro = end or tip; mega = big, from the Latin.
12. Marieb, E. (1995) Human Anatomy and Physiology 3rd Edition. Redwood City CA: Benjamin Cummings, p 557. 13. Gluco=sugar; neo=new; genesis=generation/production. 14. TRH also stimulates the release of prolactin (PRL) and might serve in addition as a neurotransmitter (via the nervous system, in contrast to travelling through the
blood) in regulating wakefulness and loss of appetite. 15. As cells “work” they perform their specific functions as well as give off heat. Thus T3 stimulates both metabolic functions as well as generation of heat. Someone with an overactive thyroid gland is likely to feel warm all the time. Conversely, someone with an underactive thyroid
probably constantly feels cold.
16. Vitamin A is a fat soluble retinoid nutrient, not the same
as water soluble β-carotene. Retinoid vitamin A can be derived from β-carotene through a long, metabolically expensive process. Conventionally, according to the USDA, vitamin A and β-carotene are deemed to be interchangeable, but that is not a valid premise.
17. The usual recommendation for daily intake of iodine is a mere 150 micrograms. This is in contrast to a recommendation of daily adequate intake (AI) of 0.25 mg for infants, 3-4 mg/day for adults or at least 200 times the amount of iodine. Fluorine is highly toxic specifically to reactions in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, both crucial metabolic pathways. It is a much more reactive element than iodine, and easily displaces iodine. Without adequate iodine, the thyroid is lost and the rest of the body simply cannot function. In addition to fluorine displacing iodine, bromine is another halide element that displaces iodine and can thus interfere with iodine and thyroid function. Consuming fish and shellfish, along with sea vegetables such as kelp, nori, dulse, digitata, etc. is one of the best ways to ensure adequate iodine intake. For clarity, fluoride (iodide, bromide, chloride, etc.) is the negatively charged ion; fluorine, iodine, bromine. etc. designates the isolated element unbound to anything else, and without an electrical charge, but most eager to find a “partner” for its one unpaired electron.
18. A complete thyroid panel includes:
TSH – Thyroid-stimulating hormone
23

TT4 – Total thyroxine, both free and bound FTI – Free thyroxine index
FT4 – Free thyroxine
Resin T3 uptake
Free T3 – free triiodothyronine
r T3 – Reverse T3
When stress is high, the “wrong” iodine is removed, leaving a non-functional rT3, in effect another of the body’s protective measures.
TBG – Thyroid binding globulin Thyroid Antibodies:
TPO-Ab – Thyroid peroxidase antibodies
TGB-Ab – Thyroglobulin antibodies Thyroglobulin is the predominant protein in the thyroid gland, and in effect stores both thyroxine and iodine.
19. For further information, see accessible and comprehensive resources on thyroid issues by Datis Kharrazian DHSc, DC; Izabella Wentz PharmD; and Nikolas Hed- berg DC.
20. Adrenalin is synonymous with epinephrine. Adrenalin is from the Latin; epinephrine is from the Greek. Epi = above, on top of (apex); nephr = kidney, as in nephron, the functional unit of the kidneys.
21. The zona glomerulosa lacks the enzyme 17-α hydroxy- lase, which is necessary to synthesize cortisol, androgens, or estrogens. Only the conversion of corticosterone to aldosterone can occur in the zona glomerulosa. Farese, et al. Licorice-Induced Hypermineralocorticoidism (1991) N Engl J Med 1991; 325:1223-1227.
22. Blood volume, peripheral resistance, and cardiac output are the key factors affecting blood pressure. Smooth muscles line the blood vessels; their contraction increases peripheral resistance. Marieb, pp 650-660.
23. Farese, et al. Licorice-Induced Hypermineralocorticoidism (1991) N Engl J Med 1991; 325:1223-1227.
24. The liver generates most of the cholesterol needed by the body, delivering it via LDL carrier molecules in the blood throughout the body. RBCs (red blood cells) lose their mitochondria when they mature. That loss gives them their indented center or squashed shape, and removes their capacity to generate cholesterol.
25. The word sugar commonly refers to white table sugar, sucrose, which is a combination of fructose and glucose. There are many forms of sugar, each a combination of carbon (O), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms. They differ by position of at least one O or OH. Position of component atoms determines the structure of a molecule and its function. Specific sugars attached to proteins, fats or cholesterol facilitate functions and biochemical processes unique to that combination.
26. Price, W. A. (2016) Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, 8th Edition, 23rd Printing. Lemon Grove, CA: Price Pottenger, p 69.
27. Vitamin C was discovered in 1912; Albert Szent-Györgi and Walter Norman Haworth received the Nobel Prize for it in 1937. Although Szent- Györgi recognized that it com- prised a complex of molecules, political forces insisted it be compressed to ascorbic acid. Common convention thus equates vitamin C with ascorbic acid, while those more attentive to subtle differences recognize vitamin C as a complex of synergistic substances.
28. Spermatozoa are the generative cells produced by men, a single such cell being a sper- matozoon. Sperm is the collective term for the spermatozoa, fluid and other substances conveyed in semen.
29. The three key sex hormones are: estrogen – which promotes growth, or “assembly of the basic building materials”; progesterone – calling for differentiation and function-specific application of the assembled building materials; testosterone – supporting muscle function, strength and maintenance. These have to do not only with reproduction of the next generation, but with maintaining the present physical body as well. There are 3 (or more) forms of estrogen and several forms of testosterone. Progestin, used in pharmaceutical products such as contraceptives, is a patentable laboratory substance, alleged to be akin to progesterone. While commonly conflated with, and used interchangeably as a term referring to progesterone, progestin is not progesterone.
30. https://www.heartmath.org/gci-commentaries/influence-of-geomagnetism-and- schumann-resonances-on-human-health-and-behavior/
POPULAR SPEAKERS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017
Karen Lyke, MS, CCN, DSc, CGP, gave us excellent background on the HPA axis as a prelude to the other talks on hormone health.
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin presented fascinating information on natural chicken production in their home environment—jungle, forest and orchard.
Amy Berger, author of The Alzheimer’s Antidote, spoke to a full house on how a high-fat diet can ward off the disease.
24
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

A Primer on the Thyroid
By Ronda Nelson, PhD
The thyroid is part of a network of glands known as the endocrine system. The word “endocrine” refers specifically to glands that release hormones or other products directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are able to move throughout the body, effecting physi- ologic change at their intended destinations. Much like a finely crafted Swiss watch, the glands and hormones of the endocrine system help our bodies keep perfect time and
remain healthy.
Early in the twentieth century, researchers knew that the hormones pro-
duced by the endocrine glands conferred a profound effect on the human body. Essentially, every organ, tissue, system and subsequent physiological reaction throughout the body was under their influence. In 1922, Dr. Henry Harrower published an extensive eighty-page monograph detailing the function and interrelations seen within the endocrine system. Prior to Dr. Harrower’s publication, scientists of the day had only suspicions about how the thyroid functioned, so his observations provided a cohesive report that garnered much attention from the medical community.
WINTER 2017
Wise Traditions 25

One of the most controversial and largely unaccepted observations Harrower made con- cerncd the dynamic interplay between the glands. He believed that if one gland was dysfunctional, the rest of the endocrine system would be in a state of disequilibrium, thereby causing physical dysfunction. Harrower stated, “All [the endocrine glands] are so closely bound to each other that a disturbance in one will throw out of gear or out of action all of the others.”
Of all of the endocrine glands, the thyroid gets blamed for most of the dysfunctions we see today. In most cases, the thyroid is merely an innocent bystander, part of a larger system that has become dysfunctional. The presenting symptoms may point to the thyroid, but they can just as easily point to an adrenal insufficiency, blood sugar dysregulation or ovarian dysfunction. If you visit your doctor complaining of fatigue, anxiety, excess weight, infertility and constipation you’ll most likely walk out with a prescription for thyroid hormone replacement without any consideration of the real underlying issues. Sadly, in most cases, the thyroid is not the actual problem.
THE ENDOCRINE TRIANGLE
There are four primary endocrine glands: the adrenals, gonads
(ovaries/testes), thyroid and pituitary. Although each of their respective hormones has unique roles in the body, the adrenals, gonads and thyroid are highly dependent on one another. Receiving its orders from the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland is the conductor or orchestrator of the glands, instructing them when action needs to be taken (see The Endocrine Triangle below). Its chief function is to link the hypothalamus and the nervous system to the rest of the body. The pituitary is on constant alert, monitoring the body and trying to maintain balance and homeostasis.
One of the hormones produced by the pituitary is known as thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH). As the name implies, TSH signals the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone, namely, T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). When thyroid hormone levels begin to fall, the pituitary is alerted and promptly sends a signal to the thyroid, asking for more thyroid hormone. This is known as a negative feedback loop.
Although TSH is most commonly known as the “thyroid hormone,” it really isn’t a thyroid hormone at all. It is, in fact, a pituitary hormone, and as such, should never be used as a sole indicator of thyroid health. There are a number of other, more effective markers that practitioners can and should use when evaluating the thyroid. But before examining those, it is important to understand how the thyroid works and why these markers will be useful in conducting effective evaluations.
26
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

THYROID INNER WORKINGS
The thyroid gland contains thousands of
spherical structures known as follicles. Each of these follicles contains a reservoir of thyroid hormones, much like a swimming pool contains water. This readily available supply ensures that there is always sufficient hormone availability when TSH sends the signal, via the pituitary, that more hormones are needed.
The predominant thyroid hormone is T4. It is made up of four molecules of iodine and comprises 95 percent of the hormone produced by the thyroid. It is largely inactive and requires additional steps to be converted into the active hormone, T3. Because the thyroid requires so much iodine, it will hoard as much as possible, ensuring there is an adequate supply for continued production.
T3 is the star player of the thyroid hormone family. Although very little—less than 5 percent—is actually produced in the thyroid, T3 is responsible for most of the benefits associated with optimal thyroid health. Instead of four iodine molecules (as seen in T4), there are only three. The extra iodine molecule is cleaved off during the conversion process from T4 to T3 in either the liver, gut or peripheral tissues. Without this crucial step, adequate T3 will not be available to the cells to help stimulate the functions of growth, reproduction and metabolism.
TRIP WIRES
As with any other system in the body, there
are particular triggers or events that can cause dysfunction to occur; not surprisingly, the thyroid is no exception. The gears and inner workings of the thyroid gland are sensitive to a number of external influences, all of which have the potential to prevent it from properly functioning. Lack of adequate nutrients is one such trigger.
Iodine, for example, is such an important part of our health that adequate dietary intake is crucial for optimal health. In order for iodine to be used to create thyroid hormones and have a positive impact on other body tissues, certain nutrients need to be readily available to facilitate its action. These include vitamins A, B, C and D; fatty acids; iron; magnesium; and, most importantly, selenium. When these
WINTER 2017
important nutrients are missing, iodine cannot be adequately utilized, and the result is a decrease in T4 and/or T3.
In addition to raw nutrient deficiencies, there are other factors that can interfere with thyroid hormone production and usage. These can include excessive intake of cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and kale); consumption of soy foods; chemical pollutants including polychlorinated bisphenols (PCBs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), phthalates, flame retardants and diox- ins; and halogen exposure (bromine, chlorine and fluorine). Each of these has been shown to negatively impact the thyroid hormones’ abilities to reach their intended destination and do their job at the cellular level. These types of chemical interferences can cause symptoms pointing to obvious thyroid dysfunction, yet blood tests can appear perfectly normal.
CONVERTING T4 TO T3
The process of converting T4 to T3 is quite
complex and occurs in sites outside the thyroid gland. For this conversion to take place, it is especially important that the key nutrients mentioned earlier be present. The two primary sites where conversion takes place are the liver (60 percent) and the gut (20 percent). The remaining T4-to-T3 conversion occurs in various sites in the body referred to as “peripheral tissues.” This symphony of conversions provides readily available thyroid hormones throughout the body.
Conversion can be hampered by impaired nutritional status, liver dysfunction, insufficient digestion or a disordered gut. Still, there is one dysfunction that trumps them all: stress and the prolonged production of cortisol.
THE ROLE OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine triangle and strongly influence the function of the thyroid. When life stress is either prolonged or excessive, the adrenals release the hormone
cortisol to try to keep stress under control. Excessive amounts of cortisol can block thyroid hormone production, resulting in decreased levels of T3 (triiodothyronine) in the bloodstream. When this occurs, the pituitary gets the signal that there isn’t enough hormone
In most cases, the thyroid is merely an innocent bystander, part of a larger system that has become dysfunctional.
Wise Traditions
27

Because of the close relationship between the adrenal glands and the ovaries or testes, a dysfunction in one will lead to a dysfunction in the other.
and triggers the thyroid to produce more TSH. This begins a cycle of dysfunction within the endocrine triangle, causing a wide array of symptoms coming from any or all of the glands.
Because of the close relationship between the adrenal glands and the ovaries or testes (both produce steroid hormones, which are made from cholesterol), a dysfunction in one will lead to a dysfunction in the other. Soon, hormone imbalances begin to occur, which can further impact thyroid hormone conversion and utilization downstream. Common symptoms include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irritability or heavy bleeding in women, along with a general loss of tolerance for noise, stress or disorder in both sexes. Men can also experience decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or generalized apathy.
THE SMOKING GUN
One of the most common causes of disor-
dered thyroid hormones is the use of or exposure to bioidentical hormones or other hormone-like substances. These can be found in prescription or over-the-counter hormones, birth control pills and IUDs or even in testosterone used by men. When used for longer than two to three months, these hormones can impair the movement or transportation and usage of thyroid hormones in the body. Furthermore, these hormones are easily transferred from one person to another, be it parent-to-child or husband-to-wife. This is commonly known as “passive transfer” and occurs most readily when hormones or hormone- containing products are applied directly to the skin. After two to three months of usage, these hormones will begin to “spill out” via sweat glands on the skin, activating passive transfer- ence to whomever gets touched.
Aside from prescription hormones, bioidentical hormones or other hormone-like substances are often found hiding in skin and body care products. Many manufacturers are keen to the fact that estrogen causes the skin to look and feel softer and more youthful. In order to keep customers coming back, they will add small amounts of estrogen or estrogen-like compounds to their products to obtain the desired effect. This type of product can be treacherous to someone dealing with a thyroid problem, because they are likely to be completely unaware of the fact
that their body lotion, face cream or aftershave lotion contains hormones that interfere with the delicate rhythm of the endocrine system.
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
It may sound complicated and perhaps even
overwhelming at first, but ultimately, there are five key principles to consider when trying to support the thyroid. These involve supporting healthy digestion, liver function, adrenal function, diet and the gut.
1. Support digestion and breakdown of food in the stomach. This will pave the way for efficient and thorough absorption later on along the digestive tract. Support should include digestive bitters, foods and herbs to support healthy bile flow and production, and sufficient pancreatic enzymes to ensure optimal breakdown of food before it enters the middle to lower small intestine.
2. Support healthy liver function. This is an important part of healing the thyroid, given that 60 percent of T4-to-T3 conversion occurs in the liver. Herbs that help support a healthy liver include silymarin (the therapeutic component of milk thistle) and schisandra, along with cruciferous vegetables, onions and garlic.
3. Support healthy adrenal function and manage lifestyle stress. This is a foundational step that should be considered for almost everyone, regardless of whether thyroid dysfunction is present. Prolonged elevations of cortisol have a profoundly negative effect on T4-to- T3 conversion that will continue until the stressors have improved and/or the adrenal glands become more capable of managing the stress. Herbs to consider include ashwagandha, rehmannia, eleuthro, rhodiola and Korean ginseng.
4. Maintain a diet free from processed foods and chemicals. These will not only cause nutrient depletions but can contribute to alterations in metabolism, weight gain, fatigue and increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders. Be sure to include foods rich in fiber to help
28
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

improve overall gut health and regular elimination.
5. Support a healthy gut. The digestive tract, especially the large intestine, is home to billions of microbes that play a significant role in human health. It is vitally important to ensure these organisms are well cared for and are in a harmonious relationship with one another. Much like a garden, some of them can overgrow, creating a less-than-optimal environment, leading to intestinal dysbiosis or leaky gut.
PROPER TESTING
Insurance restrictions prevent many health care providers from order-
ing thorough blood panels to evaluate for thyroid dysfunction. The most common marker ordered is TSH which, as previously mentioned, is not actually a thyroid hormone. In order to better understand whether there is truly a dysfunction within the thyroid gland itself, the right markers must be evaluated in context with one another. Without a complete picture, a misdiagnosis is much more likely to happen, resulting in unnecessary and often unhelpful medications.
To minimize these risks, it is imperative to consider seven serum markers that can indicate and make it possible to examine suspected thyroid dysfunction: TSH, total T4, total T3, reverse T3, T3 uptake, TPO and TGB (see sidebar below).
CONCLUSIONS
Although thyroid dysfunction has many causes, it can be corrected
over time with the right information and plenty of patience. Thyroid hormones may be needed in some cases, but taking time to test thoroughly and evaluate for underlying causes can make a significant difference in
the intended health outcome.
Start by incorporating the five foundational
tenets mentioned above, and find a practitioner who is well versed in thyroid issues. This person should be able to listen to your goals and needs, working with you rather than just talking at you.
The good news is that a possible thyroid issue doesn’t have to keep you from living your best life. Be your own advocate, ask questions and maintain a steady commitment to maximizing your health.
Dr. Ronda Nelson holds a PhD in holistic nutrition along with a master’s degree in herbal medicine. Her passion lies in helping others regain their health through dietary modifica- tions and herbal and nutritional support. Dr. Nelson enjoys working with difficult digestive and endocrine-related cases, helping men and women reach their health potential as quickly as possible. She recently transitioned to a virtual- only practice which allows her to work from her Seattle home. Dr. Nelson has gained the respect of patients and doctors alike, providing relevant clinical information both online and at her sold- out educational seminars across the country.
SERUM MARKERS TO TEST FOR THYROID DYSFUNCTION
TSH: Although not a thyroid hormone, this pituitary hormone can provide some insight about what might be happening with the feedback between the body and the brain. This marker can vary though. It should not, therefore, be used as a concrete marker for thyroid dysfunction.
TOTAL T4: This marker provides information about how much T4 the thyroid is producing. If total T4 is on the low end of normal, it can indicate a need for iodine and/or selenium.
TOTAL T3: The reference range for this marker is much larger than T4 because of the amount converted into T3. Lower levels may indicate a need for liver and gut support in order to improve T4-to-T3 conversion.
REVERSE T3: This is a useful marker to rule out stress as a contributing factor to thyroid dysfunction. If low, consider general adrenal support and focus on improving overall liver function.
T3 UPTAKE: When elevated, this marker can indicate a possible passive exposure to testosterone. If low, consider the possibility of estrogen exposure.
TPO: One of two thyroid antibodies, this serum marker is commonly positive with the presence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. TGB: This thyroid antibody is not positive as often as TPO. However, it can be significantly elevated with Graves’ Disease.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions
29

Recovery from Bioidentical Hormones
By Kim Schuette, CN
When you think of hormonal symptoms, what comes to mind? Anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, hot flashes and night sweats? Sleepless nights? For many, the obvious remedy is often bioidentical hormone replacement treatment (BHRT). This strategy assumes, of course, that you have diminished levels of one or more hormones. It is important initially for your practitioner to determine whether the symptoms being expressed are the result of deficiency or excess. Low or high levels of any
hormone create symptoms.
Let’s say that tests have determined that a hormonal imbalance exists and
that BHRT support may help. Sure enough, BHRT helps reduce or eliminate the symptoms you were experiencing. So, at first thought, you may be thinking “What’s to recover from? Aren’t bioidentical hormones natural? That’s why I went this route in the first place.” Well, things are not always as they seem. According to Louisa Williams, ND, DC, author of Radical Medicine, “Many women using bioidenticals often find themselves in the same predicament so common among women using ‘synthetic’ hormone replacement therapy. That is, saturation of the tissues in estrogen and the inevitable problems that excess synthetic estrogen produces. And why? Be- cause bioidenticals are synthetic. They are basically the same as so-called synthetic hormones and both are pharmaceutically derived.”1
30
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

There is no doubt that for some premeno- pausal and menopausal women, bioidentical hormone therapy offers much needed relief and is better than the complications that often arise without them. The purpose of this article is to assist readers in making informed decisions regarding the use of bioidentical hormones and to support those who desire to safely wean off bioidenticals while supporting their hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis (HPAG axis). It is always advisable that women wean gradually off bioidentical or synthetic hormones under the supervision of a licensed physician or naturopathic doctor. In my experience, the weaning process can be smooth once the Wise Traditions diet is implemented daily, meal and sleep routines are consistent and certain nutritional and homeopathic supports are in place.
As we consider hormones, keep in mind that each hormone, just like each cell, needs to act in synchrony with every other hormone. No hormone works in isolation nor are individual hormones immune to the influence of other hormones.
ANATOMY OF BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES
Bioidentical hormones are hormones derived from plants, such as soy or wild yams, and are designed to be structurally identical to the hormones produced naturally inside the human body. The claim is that “they are the closest and most natural form of exogenous hormones possible and yet they are identical to our own endogenous hormones.”
According to Dr. Laura Streicher, MD, “The only thing that is natural is to drink the horse urine or eat the soy plant (both are used in the manufacturing of hormones). All plant- derived hormone preparations, whether they come from a compounding pharmacy or a large commercial pharmacy, require a chemical process to synthesize the final product, which can then be put into a cream, a spray, a patch or a pill. Promoters of compounded plant-derived hormones use the terms 'natural' and 'bioidentical' because it is appealing to consumers and implies that it is not synthetic.”2
Plant-derived estrogen from soybeans is molecularly very similar but not identical to
WINTER 2017
human hormones. Contrary to popular belief, a hormone formula packaged at a compounding pharmacy is in reality no different than those formulas obtained from a mainstream pharmacy. Compounding pharmacies are working with the same synthetic raw material as the commercial pharmaceutical companies in creating creams, pills, sprays and patches.
ANATOMY OF HUMAN HORMONES
For many years, the scientific medical community believed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at any age would reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. This hope was dashed by the Women's Health Initiative study, which found that taking estrogen plus progestin for more than five years places postmenopausal women at greater risk for heart attacks, strokes and several other serious problems. The study’s conclusion reads, “Overall health risks exceeded benefits from use of combined estrogen plus progestin for an average 5.2-year follow-up among healthy postmenopausal U.S. women. All-cause mortality was not affected during the trial. The risk-benefit profile found in this trial is not consistent with the requirements for a viable intervention for primary prevention of chronic diseases, and the results indicate that this regimen should not be initiated or continued for primary prevention of CHD [coronary heart
disease].”3
All human sex hormones are derived from
cholesterol. The body manufactures roughly 80 percent of the cholesterol needed to maintain a healthy endocrine system. The remaining 20 percent comes from exogenous dietary sources, primarily animal fat in the form of egg yolks, butter fat, lard and bacon, tallow and beef fat, duck and goose fat, schmaltz and poultry skin, fish skin, fish eggs and wild seafood. Choles- terol is the precursor to pregnenolone. From pregnenolone, our sex and adrenal organs produce estrogens, progestins (progesterone) and testosterone (as well as DHEA, DHT and androstenedione).
Hormones are made in the pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary, parathyroid, thyroid, adrenals, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, testes and adipose tissue. Each of these glands play a role in the symphony of hormone production. It is
Contrary
to popular belief, a hormone formula packaged
at a compounding pharmacy
is in reality no different than those formulas obtained from a mainstream pharmacy.
Wise Traditions
31

the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis that is the big player in producing sex hormones. For simplicity’s sake, we will focus on the production of the primary sex hormones—estrogens, progestins and androgens—and later, adrenal hormones and their influence over the transition known as menopause. Estrogens (estradiol, estrone and estriol) are produced in significant quantities by the ovaries, and a very small amount is secreted by the adrenal cortices. Estradiol is primarily produced in the ovaries; much of estrone is secreted in the peripheral tissues from androgens secreted by the adrenal cortices; and estriol is derived from both estradiol and estrone, with its conversion occurring mostly in the liver.
The most important of the progestins is progesterone. Progesterone should be secreted by the corpus luteum in significant amounts in cycling women during the luteal (second half) of the twenty-eight-day ovarian cycle. Testosterone is also a player in creating balance of female hormones throughout a woman’s life. All three, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, are steroids, made largely from cholesterol derived from the blood but to a certain extent also from acetyl coenzyme A.4 Dietary cholesterol plays a key role in providing precursors for the proper production of sex hormones for both women and men.
THE LIVER PLAYS A ROLE
It’s important to understand the liver’s role in relationship to sex
hormones. Once hormones have done their job, so to speak, they are transported to the liver to be conjugated to form glucuronides and sulfates. The liver is responsible for converting the resulting potent estrogens (estradiol and estrone) into the less potent form, estriol. Of these substances, about 20 percent are excreted in the bile and then eliminated through the colon. The remaining products are excreted via urine.
If the liver’s detox pathways, glucuronidation and sulfation, are impaired due to toxic overload from environmental factors (toxic chemicals in the air, food, etc.) the result will be weakened function which will actually lead to increased harmful activity of the estrogens in the body. Estrogen is an anabolic hormone. This means that its primary function is to encourage cellular proliferation and tissue growth. When estrogen is not properly balanced with progesterone and when the liver’s detoxification functions are impaired, excess uncleared estrogen can lead to cancer and other destructive metabolic processes. This creates a state of estrogen dominance.
Symptoms of insufficient clearance of estrogens or estrogen dominance include acne, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia, gallbladder disease, loss of concentration, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, bloating, weight gain, water retention, irritability, uterine fibroids and breast and ovarian cysts, to name a few. If a history of these conditions exists, one should pay special attention to supporting the liver and, in particular, these two pathways. We will discuss dietary and therapeutic supports further in this article.
Louisa Williams states that “The hormone replacement therapy de- bacle is just one example of allopathic medicine’s malfeasance through emphasizing quick fixes in the form of a pill over the more time-con-
32 Wise Traditions
suming process of searching for the underlying cause of each patient’s unique symptoms and prescribing a personalized treatment protocol.”5 To delve deeper, let's look at underlying causes that contribute to hormonal dysfunction and how we can best create an internal milieu to support the body’s natural desire for balance.
ADRENAL HORMONES
TO THE RESCUE. . . OR NOT
The primary function of the adrenal glands is to secrete into the bloodstream adrenaline, followed by cortisol, for the purpose of supplying additional energy in times of stress. Constant stress means constant stimulation of the adrenal glands. Due to the fact that adrenaline is capable of dissolving bone, overactive adrenal glands can be devastating to the skeletal system. The adrenals slow down their bone-dissolving hormones around age sixty-five, which is why bone loss decreases at this time.
Additionally, the adrenal glands are involved in the control of fluid balance throughout the body via the production of aldosterone and mineralocorticoids. The adrenal synthesis of cortisol and glucocorticoids assists in stabilizing blood sugar balance. Control of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses to injury also is dependent upon healthy, functioning adrenal glands.
The ease of one's transition into menopause is largely dependent upon the strength of one's adrenals and the state of one's mineral stores and general nutrition. One of the functions of the adrenal glands is to gradually take over the production of the various hormones that the ovaries have been producing (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone). Along with ovaries, testes and peripheral tissues, adrenal glands produce small amounts of sex hormones (DHEA, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone). These hormones are vital to overall health, strength, energy and stamina. Steroid hormones are essential to maintaining a healthy mood and emotional status. In essence, the adrenals provide a back-up system for sex hormone production.
We cannot talk about hormonal imbalance symptoms without discussing inflammation. Inflammation is often expressed as pain. Pain is our body’s way of getting our attention. Inflam-
WINTER 2017

mation is now thought to be the root cause of the majority of chronic diseases. The adrenal hormone cortisol is used by the body to put the inflammatory fire out. (Cortisone shot, anyone?) Cortisol is made from cholesterol. If you experience chronic inflammation, your body preferentially makes cortisol to put the fire(s) out at the expense of making the sex hormones. The hormonal symptoms experienced may simply be a natural compensatory imbalance secondary to inflammation. Those people with lower cholesterol levels are even more susceptible to this imbalance.
Our adrenal glands are our glands of survival. They produce numerous hormones that are necessary in assisting the body to handle inflammation and stress. Ideally, we function best living in a state of acute or occasional stress and long periods of rest or peace. Unfortunately, many people living in our modern hurried culture experience just the opposite—chronic stress with occasional rest.
The body prioritizes hormone pathways to address chronic stress and inflammation by directing the lion’s share of pregnenolone down the adrenal steroid pathway. The result is unavailable pregnenolone for the creation of sex drive. (Can you say “low libido”?) In the body’s wisdom, one cannot successfully deal with chronic stress and procreate, especially in the absence of adequate cholesterol to provide the necessary parts for both the adrenal and sex hormone pathways. The bottom line is to take care of the inflammation issues first and give your body the chance to self-regulate your challenges.
Common stressors that can lead to adrenal dysfunction include:
• Unresolved emotional stress (anxiety, fear, worry, anger, guilt, depression)
• Late hours, insufficient sleep
• Overwork, either physical or mental, in-
cluding excessive physical exercise
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Refined sugar (white sugar, brown sugar,
corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, dextrin, high fructose corn syrup, etc. found in most processed foods)
• Overconsumption of caffeine (coffee, black
WINTER 2017
tea, chocolate, soft drinks)
• Chronic pain and/or illness
• Chronic or severe allergies
• Trauma, injury, surgery
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone)
• Synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
If you have afternoon sluggishness, think adrenal insufficiency. Other signs of adrenal weakness include general fatigue, difficulty falling asleep despite exhaustion, lack of libido, sugar cravings (especially for a "lift"), low blood pressure, arthritic tendencies, increased perspiration, swollen ankles, allergies, tendency to asthma, poor circulation, cold hands and feet, constipation, aversion to hot weather, low cholesterol, dizziness, salt cravings, brown spots or bronzing of the skin and nervous exhaustion.
DON’T FORGET THE THYROID
If you have morning sluggishness despite adequate sleep, think “thy-
roid.” The number one symptom of low thyroid function (hypothyroid) is fatigue or exhaustion. Brain fog may also be a part of the hypothyroid picture. Hair loss and chipping or peeling nails without other symptoms is usually not thyroid. Look for the classic signs first. Other symptoms can include ovarian cysts, tinnitus, tendon and ligament problems as well as the propensity towards injury (chronic muscular and skeletal injuries). Also commonly seen in hypothyroidism is infertility, insulin resistance, constipation, anxiety, depression and night blindness, which is often due to the liver not converting beta-carotene to vitamin A. Ringing in the ears, edema (especially of the face) and weight gain, though not always, are common symptoms of low thyroid function. Those persons with primary hypothyroidism tend to prefer warm weather (whereas adrenal insufficiency people prefer cool weather).
Hypothyroidism is often overlooked. It is important to work with a trained practitioner who understands the merits of extensive thyroid testing along with observation of one’s symptoms. Thorough thyroid testing includes serum levels of TSH, total T4, total T3, free T4, free T3, T3 uptake, reverse T3, free thyroxine index T7, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO ab) and thyroid antithyroglobulin antibody (TAA). Assessment by a trained health care practitioner experienced in supporting thyroid disorders is key.
Additional tests that are useful in any hormone-balancing endeavor include temperature charting, DUTCH Test (sex and adrenal via dried urine), salivary hormone testing of sex and adrenal hormones, serum testing of hemoglobin A1c, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel along with phosphorus and a Complete Blood Count. Also, an in-office Ragland’s test is helpful in monitoring adrenal status as well as a Page graph for an understanding of inherent endocrine function potential.
GET STARTED ON BALANCING
Foundational to recovery from bioidentical hormone therapy and to
hormone balancing is establishing steady blood sugar levels as well as a healthy sleep routine. One of the common complaints of menopausal
Wise Traditions 33

women is sleep disruption. Either falling asleep is a challenge or staying asleep is a problem.
Typically, those who have trouble falling asleep are experiencing an inverted cortisol pattern. Rather than cortisol being at its lowest point at bedtime, cortisol actually climbs to its highest level. Many experience this in the form of a “second wind.” Several factors can contribute to this inverted cortisol pattern: prior use of birth control hormones, overconsumption of caffeine, chronic stress and working or living in bright lighting at night.
• Eliminate obstacles to balance
• Eat a Wise Traditions diet
• Correct digestion and blood sugar control • Manage chronic prolonged stress
• Establish rhythm and spend time outdoors • Support detoxification and elimination
• Address specific hormone imbalances
• Do regular movement and exercise
• Sleep restfully.
Correction of elevated cortisol that is keeping one from falling asleep at a decent hour (between 9:00 and 10:00 PM) can be achieved
by a multi-faceted approach. This involves establishing a consistent rhythm in one’s day, including regular wake and sleep times, as well as regular meal times and time outdoors. Often it is necessary to support
the hypothalamus and pituitary glands via nutritional therapy. The use of protomorphogens, particular to these glands, has proven very effective.
In my nutrition practice, we use Standard Process’ Hypothalmex, Hypo- thalamus PMG and Pituitrophin PMG. Additionally, real food sources of
the whole vitamin E complex provide nutrition for the pituitary glands. •
Regardless of the nature of one’s specific imbalances, the following • steps are always vital to hormone balance: •
ELIMINATE OBSTACLES TO BALANCE
It is vital to eliminate as many obstacles as possible that block the endocrine system from staying in a state of homeostasis or balance. The following destroy health and may encourage estrogen dominance. We will discuss some of
these in more detail in the following sections.
Lowfat, high-sugar, high-carb diet Over-committed lifestyle
Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas)
WISE TRADITIONS DIET
The Wise Traditions diet, which is a varied diet based on the findings of Dr. Weston A. Price, is always the diet of choice for those with hormonal challenges. The Wise Traditions diet ensures adequate intake of a variety of healthy traditional fats, moderate to small amounts of pastured or wild sources of protein, generous servings of organic vegetables and fruits, lacto-fermented vegetables and fruits for gut health, raw and cultured dairy products and moderate to small amounts of properly prepared grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Iodine is critical, especially for thyroid function. Adequate iodine is essential to optimal health. Eat wild fish and wild seafood and sea vegetables. Use unrefined Celtic sea salt. Avoid bromide. Bromide interferes with utilization of iodine in the body (in glandular tissues like the thyroid, breasts, ovaries, uterus, prostate). Bromide competes with iodine receptors, displacing iodine. Receptors will bind with bromide in its presence. Bromide is found in commercial breads, pasta and refined cereals. Avoid pool treatments that utilize bromine, as well as pesticides.
Selenium is probably the second most important mineral for thyroid function. It is a vital component of the enzymes needed to remove iodine molecules from T4 when converting it into the more active form, T3. Selenium is also an antioxidant, protecting the thyroid gland and immune system. The best dietary source of selenium is Brazil nuts. One to two Brazil nuts daily will provide one with plenty of selenium.
Sulfur (MSM) also provides major support for the thyroid and liver and is involved in the liver’s conversion of T4 to T3, the most biologically active thyroid hormone. Sulfur-rich foods include whole eggs, garlic, onions, leeks and others. Zinc is necessary in order to make enough active thyroid hormone. It is also necessary for proper conversion of T4 to T3. Oysters are a delicious source of zinc, as is red meat. Copper and manganese help protect the thyroid from free
radicals.
Vitamin D is required for the conversion of T4 to T3 and is needed for TSH production in the pituitary. Sunshine,
lard from pastured pigs, raw milk and unrefined cod liver oil are excellent sources of vitamin D. Vitamin E is another antioxidant important for optimal thyroid function, protecting the thyroid from cellular damage.
Vitamin A helps to balance the correct levels of thyroid hormones. Adequate vitamin A levels are needed for proper thyroid and liver function. Vitamin A is found only in animal fats (butter, ghee, egg yolks, raw cream, liver, oysters, unrefined cod liver oil, fish skin, poultry skin, etc.) which are a vital part of the Wise Traditions diet.
Magnesium is another mineral essential for thyroid function and the regulation of conversion of T4 to T3. Cooked dark leafy green vegetables should be included on a very regular basis. The vitamins niacin and riboflavin regulate thyroid activity and contribute to the prevention of either an overactive or underactive thyroid. Niacin additionally works as an antioxidant.
34 Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

• Alcohol and recreational drugs • Chronic infections
• GMOs
• Gut permeability
• Electro-magnetic fields, radiation
• Antibiotics and other prescription and over-
the-counter medications
• Toxic personal care and cleaning products,
most of which contain known estrogenics.
SUPPORT LIVER FUNCTION
As important as it is to eat right for our
hormones’ sake, we must also nourish our bodies well for proper liver function. Most people interested in health these days are aware of the concern regarding certain genetic mutations that affect liver function and detoxification. The most talked about mutation influences the liver’s methylation pathway. Methylation is involved in almost every bodily biochemical reaction and occurs billions of times every second in our cells. Methylation mutations, as with all genetic mutations, exist because of what was inherited at birth. However, the genes you inherit from your parents are not your destiny. They are simply your tendency. Epigenetic factors can change genetic expression and that is why a Wise Traditions diet along with lifestyle factors and changes are so empowering.
When most people think of methylation, what immediately comes to mind is MTHFR genes. The tendency in many health circles is to hyper focus on this one mutation and its potential effect on liver function and hence, hormones. However, there are multiple genes that tag team with the MTHFR genes in the process of methylation. For this reason, it is not wise to just start supplementing with the typical recommendation of high-dose methyl- cobalamin (methylated B12). Many with MTHFR SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms, the most common type of genetic variation among people) react poorly to methylated B12 due to other related genetic mutations involved in methylation. MTHFR is a vital enzyme in the folate cycle and is required in the conversion of folic acid into L-methylfolate. Synthesis of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine) can be halted by lack of active folate due to MTHFR and other mutations.
WINTER 2017
Rather than blindly supplementing with methylated B12, start by consuming foods that are methyl donors daily. Your body knows what to do with the nutrients in food. Cooked dark leafy greens, soaked and cooked lentils, liver and beet kvass are all excellent methyl donors and should be consumed regularly. By increasing dietary sources of methyl donors, including vitamin B12 and folate, the liver’s methylation process is supported in the most natural way.
SUPPORT GLUCURONIDATION AND SUPPORTIVE FOODS Glucuronidation takes place in the liver and is often involved in the metabolism of substances such as drugs, pollutants, bilirubin, androgens, estrogens, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, fatty acid derivatives, retinoids and bile acids. The body uses glucuronidation to make a large variety of substances more water-soluble, and, in this way, allow for their subsequent elimination from the body through urine or feces (via bile
from the liver).
Factors such as hypothyroidism, overweight, excessive estrogen, a
compromised immune function and smoking affect the rate and efficacy of one’s glucuronidation process.
Cruciferous vegetables support this pathway. They should be cooked (steamed or sautéed) or fermented. Raw cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, mustard greens and bok choy are very goitrogenic. This means they can lower thyroid function, which in most cases, we do not want to do.
Gotu kola is a perennial plant that is native to the wetland regions of Asia. It can be used for a variety of reasons. It supports the glucuronidation pathway. It is known to enhance microcirculation by increasing blood vessel and collagen growth with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties while preventing swelling. Think of it if you are have skin concerns (such as premature wrinkling, poor scar healing) and edema.
Sulfation is a final phase in the liver’s detoxification process. Sulf- oxidation transforms toxic sulfites into sulfate for elimination from the body. Sulfation plays an important role in hormone regulation and metabolism. Cell signaling and inflammation control also rely on sulfation. The body uses sulfation to eliminate many toxic environmental compounds including mercury, acetaminophen, xenobiotics and food additives like aspartame and sulfites, as well as endogenous toxins from intestinal bacteria, hormones (thyroid, cortisol and other steroidal hormones) and neurotransmitters.6
According to Stephanie Seneff, PhD, one of the world’s foremost glyphosate experts, glyphosate depletes the liver of much needed sulfate. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup and is used in conjunction with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Seneff believes that glyphosate disrupts the transport of sulfate from the gut to the liver and pancreas. The result is a plethora of diseases. Autism as well as celiac and other diseases of the gut are all linked to faulty sulfation pathway function.7 Elimination of GMOs from the diet is crucial for wellness.
Foods that offer excellent support for the sulfation pathway include organic garlic, leeks, eggs, raw cultured dairy, wild fish and shellfish,
Wise Traditions 35

liver, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, duck, goose, turkey, properly soaked and cooked lentils, soaked and cooked oatmeal, and barley. Ginger and mustard also offer good support for sulfation.
CORRECT DIGESTION AND CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR
Another essential function for obtaining optimal hormone balancing is optimal digestion and blood sugar control. To start, eliminate improp- erly prepared grains and refined vegetable oils. For serious digestive issues, consider the GAPS Diet, especially the GAPS Introduction Diet,
a therapeutic diet designed to heal the gut.
The inclusion of digestive bitters or raw apple cider vinegar before
meals will stimulate the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid and pepsin, both of which are designed to begin the process of digesting proteins and minerals. Bile insufficiency or thick sluggish bile is often seen in estrogen dominance. Common signs of bile insufficiency or biliary tract stasis are constipation, light colored stools and stools that float (indicat- ing a malabsorption of fat). The addition of supplemental ox bile can help correct this condition. Consuming beet kvass, a traditional Russian lacto-fermented beverage, prior to meals is also extremely effective in thinning the bile stored in the gallbladder. This allows bile to be delivered into the duodenum of the small intestine more easily, thus enhancing the digestion of fatty foods.
As mentioned above, blood sugar regulation can be the cause of waking at night for many women. Following closely the Wise Traditions diet will be the most important step in creating stable blood sugar. Next will be establishing three regular meals daily. Do not skip meals or do intermittent fasting until blood sugar is steady.
Along with regular meals and meal times, use Dr. Natasha Campbell- McBride’s recommendation of incorporating her butter-honey mixture (see page 38) into the diet in between meals.8 This in-between-meals snack is designed to give the body longer sustaining energy in the way
of butter with just enough raw honey to satisfy sugar cravings. As time goes on and blood sugar normalizes, one will need this snack less and less in between meals and in many cases, will feel perfectly satisfied until the next meal.
Insulin resistance, as well as sugar cravings, can be addressed in the same manner as above. The inclusion of therapeutic dosages of Mediherb’s Gymnema can be very beneficial in both stopping sugar cravings and re-sensitizing cells to insulin. In many cases, Gymnema will need to be used for up to nine months, but the results are well worth the effort.
Evening primrose oil or black currant seed oil are also extremely useful in reversing insulin resistance. Additionally, they support hormone balancing in cycling as well as menopausal women. Evening primrose oil is especially suited for younger women, while black currant seed oil supports perimenopausal and menopausal women best. As with all plant oils, it is imperative to seek out high-quality therapeutic sources such as those provided by Mediherb and Standard Process.
Lastly, avoid eating after 7:00 PM (6:00 PM to support weight loss) to ensure that the bulk of the digestive process is finished before going to bed. Managing chronic stress and going to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 PM are essential steps in restoring blood sugar regulation.
SPEAKERS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017
Ben Greenfield and his wife Jessa both gave presentations at the conference. Ben gave guidance for those struggling with weight loss while Jessa gave practical advice
on getting started with an ancestral diet.
Eliza Vander Hoot, wife of Michael Schmidt, gave an inspiring description of her husband's struggles for raw milk in Canada at the closing remarks.
36
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

MANAGE CHRONIC PROLONGED STRESS Considered by many physicians and health care practitioners to be the most common culprit for inflammation and chronic illness, prolonged stress must be addressed in order to achieve long-term hormonal balance. The first step in managing chronic stress is to create more margin in one’s day and schedule. This requires
prioritizing and being realistic.
Modern culture has imparted high demands
on individuals with our pervasive use of technology. It takes a great deal of self-control to create healthy boundaries and safe spaces, if you will. But without boundaries and safe spaces, quiet is all but stolen from our existence. Take steps to limit your availability via email and cell phones. Learn to say “no” to excessive commitments. Refuse to be driven by the tyranny of the urgent. Very few “urgencies” are truly such. Make it a practice to turn off devices before dinner. Guard your safe spaces, giving yourself regular time outdoors daily without the presence of devices. Practice quietness on a daily basis. Journal, pray, meditate. Be still!
Another area of chronic stress comes in the form of unhealthy relationships. Look honestly at those relationships that bring repetitive stress into your day. Take positive action through the counsel of trusted friends, therapists, pastors, priests or rabbis or other counselors. Find solu- tions to rebuild strong relationships. Spend time
with those people who encourage you and do likewise to others. Medical researcher T.S. Wiley once wrote, “We always knew that there were certain rules for staying alive in harmony with all other living things—how much you could eat, how long you could stay awake, and
how much stress you could endure.”9
Finally, a key ingredient to stress management is to make a commit-
ment to restorative sleep. More on that later.
ESTABLISH RHYTHM AND SPEND TIME OUTDOORS
Our hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis is designed to re- ceive signals from the sun, in a roundabout way. These signals are initiated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. The SCN is the master clock controlling circadian rhythms. In essence, our
biological time clock, or circadian rhythm takes its cues from sunlight. Prior to the advent of electricity, it was easy to go to bed at an ideal time, two hours after sunset. As the eye perceives darkness, a message is transmitted via the optic nerve to the anterior hypothalamus and then to the pineal gland. Once received, the pineal gland, a neuroendocrine gland, initiates the production of melatonin. It takes the body roughly two hours from receipt of this signal to produce melatonin in levels sufficient to induce deep sleep. What happens if we live in bright artificial lights all day until late night? You guessed it. We miss the natural signals that should be transmitted. We live in a perpetual state of summer. Long days
of light which translate to less sleep.10
SUPPORT DETOXIFICATION AND ELIMINATION
Gentle detoxification and biotherapeutic drainage provide crucial support for balancing hormones and recovering from the use of both bioidentical and synthetic hormone therapy. As a complement to biotherapeutic drainage, simple home therapies such as castor oil packs, dry brushing, dry sauna, liver-gallbladder flushes and coffee enemas
SPEAKERS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017
Ronda Nelson gave a fascinating seminar on thyroid health.
Sylvia Burgos Toftness gave a class on making healing bone broth.
Stephanie Seneff presented yet another spellbinding lecture on cholesterol sulfate and the harmful effects of glyphosate.
WINTER 2017
Wise Traditions
37

may be incorporated. The goal is to eliminate the toxic liver stressors and their effects due to past use of over-the-counter and prescription medications, estrogenics and xenobiotics from food, water and personal care products as well as synthetic hormones. Ensuring regular daily bowel movements is also critical in this process.
Dr. Dickson Thom, DDS, ND, explains biotherapeutic drainage in this way: “Drainage is the process of detoxifying the body by opening the emunctories and then discharging the toxic accumulations. However, in reality it is a much more complex process in that it provides a support for the natural progression and maturation throughout life.”11
Drainage (or biotherapeutic drainage) is often confused with detoxification. The two terms are closely related but have specific differences. Detoxification refers to the process of cleansing a particular organ or gland or using therapeutic support to eliminate a toxin such as a toxic metal, parasite, chemical or pathogenic yeast. Detoxification tends to employ commonly used remedies without considering the individual’s elimination ability based on many factors.
Drainage takes into account each person’s unique metabolic status and requires a knowledge of the individual’s health history, level of health and elimination patterns and tendencies, among other factors. Biotherapeutic drainage was developed in Europe at the turn of the twentieth century. There are several forms of drainage remedies. These include gemmotherapy or plant stem cell remedies, single remedy homeopathy and complex homeopathy (such as UNDA Numbered Compounds).
In order for the body to heal, toxins must be released and affected tissues regenerated. It is always ideal that the release of toxins be done as gently as possible. Drainage therapies are designed to do just that. In addition to the aforementioned remedies, drainage includes simple therapies such as massage, dry saunas,
castor oil packs and hydrotherapy. These therapies can enhance homeopathy and gemmotherapy.
UNDA Numbered Compounds are complex homeopathic remedies that comprise homeopathic dilutions of both plant and metal sources. Being homeopathic, there is no plant or metal elemental form present in these remedies. The presence of the homeopathic dilutions (at a 12X potency) of the various metals allows the remedies to cross the cell membranes and stimulate intracellular detoxification. The seventy-five individual UNDA Numbered Compounds can be combined to create eleven hundred different protocols, providing a wide range of options tailored to the individual’s needs.
Key forms of drainage that I use most often are gemmotherapy and UNDA Numbered Compounds. Gemmotherapy remedies are plant remedies. They are specifically derived from the most embryonic part of the various plants that have been identified for their abilities to drain, regenerate and restore function to particular organs and glands. These remedies are made from young plant parts that include buds, rootlets, shoots or stems. The targeted portions of the plant are gently extracted and diluted using water, glycerin and alcohol. Gemmotherapy remedies are very supportive in recovering from the consequences of bioidentical hormone therapy. The key gemmotherapy remedies are Sequoia Gigantea, Quercus Pedunculata and Ribes Nigrum.
For specific adrenal support, Ribes Nigrum, a gemmotherapy extract from the black currant bud, is one of the most beneficial supports for re- generation of the adrenal glands. Ashwagandha, an herbal extract tincture, is also an excellent adaptagenic support for adrenals and especially for those who are creating high levels of reverse T3.
For thyroid support, the gemmotherapy Prunus Amgydalus serves to help restore and balance function. Additionally, for those with hypothyroidism, Mediherb’s Thyroid Complex provides bladderwrack, bacopa and ashwagandha along with trace minerals, including iodine. This is an excellent formula for improving sluggish metabolism. It is especially beneficial for those persons who are underconverting T4 to T3. In my practice, we find this effective along with complex carbs in moderation.
Support for estrogen dominance should always include liver drainage. Two gemmotherapy remedies that are time tested for efficacy of detoxing estrogenic compounds are rosmarinus (extract from rosemary buds) and juniperus (from juniper buds). Milk thistle, as a tincture, is also a very effective herb for assisting the liver in breaking down and eliminating estrogen and estrogen-like compounds. Daily inclusion of kelp for iodine and beet kvass further support the liver’s challenges from poor clearance of excess estrogen.
In cases where estrogen deficiency exists, the gemmotherapy Se-
BUTTER-HONEY MIXTURE FOR BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION
1 pound butter or ghee or coconut oil (cultured, grass-fed and organic is best, but any will do) 1/8 to 1/4 cup raw honey
Bring butter to room temperature. Blend with raw honey. Store in refrigerator. May keep jar in purse or backpack as needed during day. Take 1-2 tablespoons every 30-60 minutes during waking hours for a minimum of two weeks.
38
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

quoia Gigantea is a great therapeutic remedy. Black cohosh and wild yam can also be used to support low estrogen. Both these herbs should be used under the guidance of a trained health care practitioner. Please note that black cohosh is a powerful herb that should not be used during pregnancy as it can induce early labor and cause complications in the developing baby. However, homeopathic dilutions of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa or Actaea racemosa) and blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) can be safely used during the end of pregnancy to induce and stimulate labor. The subtle energy of homeopathic remedies makes them safe alterna- tives to aggressive pharmaceuticals.
Progesterone insufficiency is a very common challenge in modern perimenopausal and menopausal women. A very effective support for low progesterone is a combination of the gemmotherapy remedies Ribes Nigrum, Sequoia Gigantea and Quercus Pedunculata. This trio assists the body in naturally balancing. Quercus Pedunculata is particularly helpful in encourag- ing the production and balance of testosterone. Herbs such as chaste tree and wild yam complex can also be incorporated to correct insufficien- cies. The use of whole food concentrate products like Drenamin to support the function of the adrenal glands and Ovex P to supply precursors for the production of progesterone are also superb options. All of these should be used under the guidance of a trained health care practitioner.
KEEP MOVING!
Don’t forget the importance of regular
exercise. The best exercise is the one you will do. Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system as well as the lungs and cardiovascular system. Exercise relieves stress as well. Find a routine you enjoy and stay with it. Don’t be afraid to try new activities. Variety eliminates boredom.
SLEEP RESTFULLY
Sleep is one of the most restorative therapies
we have and it costs us absolutely nothing! Before you grab for that bottle of melatonin, understand how the production of melatonin works. The hormones melatonin and prolactin are the drivers of our biological clocks. Melato- nin production by the pineal gland is stimulated
WINTER 2017
two hours after the eye perceives darkness. While melatonin can provide relief in acute situations, when taken long term it decreases natural production by shrinking the pineal gland.12 If supplemental melatonin is used, it should only be in small amounts (1-3 mg) and infrequently, not on a nightly basis.
Instead, try a warm cup of bone broth or raw milk before bed. Both are teeming with minerals that are helpful for inducing a good night’s sleep. Rubus Idaeus and Tilia Tomentosa are two gemmotherapy remedies that help the nervous and endocrine systems balance and bring relief to insomnia, irritability, depression and hot flashes. Two side effects of low progesterone are insomnia and snoring. Clinical research suggests that chaste tree increases melatonin secretion, especially at night. This, along with daily time outdoors, assists the body in having restful sleep.
IN CLOSING
In the pursuit of hormone balancing, we must strive to consider the
long-term effects of our chosen therapies. Whenever possible, choose non-toxic therapies that encourage your finely designed hormonal system to adapt to the changing seasons of life. Ignore the media’s many mes- sages that tell us we are to be forever twenty. Honor the changing season of life by embracing with joyful expectancy the new adventures ahead. And never underestimate the regenerative and recuperative powers of the incredible human body. It is possible to restore strength and balance to your endocrine system at any age.
Kim Schuette, CN, has been in private practice in the field of nutrition since 1999, teaching the importance of real food for optimal health. In 2002 she established Biodynamic Wellness where she and her staff spe- cialize in nutritional and biotherapeutic drainage therapies to support gut/bowel and digestive disorders, detoxification, mindful preconception, hormonal imbalances, ADD/ADHD challenges, and children’s health concerns. Additionally, Kim serves on the Board of Directors for the WAPF and co-serves as the WAPF San Diego chapter leader.
REFERENCES
1. Personal conversation with Louisa Williams, MSc, DC, ND in November 2017.
2. Steicher, Lauren. Buyer Beware: “Bioidentical” Hormone Myths. November 9, 2011.
doctoroz.com/blog/lauren-streicher-md/buyer-beware-bioidentical-hormones-myths. 3. Rossouw JE, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial.
JAMA. 2002. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12117397/
4. Guyton, Arthur & Hall, John. Textbook of Medical Physiology. Tenth Edition. Philadel-
phia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000.
5. Williams, Louisa. Radical Medicine: Cutting-Edge Natural Therapies That Treat the
Root Causes of Disease. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2011.
6. BioFoundations. Enhancing the Six Phase II Detoxification Pathways by Consuming the
Necessary Nutrients. Interdiscip Toxicol 2013;6(4):159-184.
7. Seneff, Stephanie and Anthony Samsel. Glyphosate, pathways to modern disease II: Celiac
sprue and gluten intolerance. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945755/ 8. Campbell-McBride, Natasha, Certified GAPS Practitioner Training. Dallas. November
2011.
9. Wiley, T.S. Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival. New York, NY: Pocket Books, 2000. 10. Ibid.
11. Thom, Dickson. UNDA Numbers: An Energetic Journey to Homeostasis and Wellness.
Scottsdale, AZ: JELD Publishing, 2013.
12. Wiley, T.S. Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival. New York, NY: Pocket Books, 2000.
Wise Traditions 39

Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Weston A. Price in Peru
By Katie Williamson
In September 2017, I had the privilege and honor, along with my wonderful colleague, Hilda Labrada Gore, to travel to Peru to give a series of lectures around the country about Dr. Weston Price´s masterpiece, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Our trip was sponsored by the Weston A. Price Foundation. Given that Dr. Price’s book still is not published in Spanish, we felt the urgent need to share the wisdom contained in the book with a people so much closer to their roots than we are here in
the United States.
Any Peruvian will tell you, with much deserved pride, that Peru is one
of the most biodiverse places in the world. As you journey from the dry desert of the Pacific coast toward the east, you will glide over the majestic white mountaintops of the tallest peaks of the Andes Mountains and then descend into the lungs of the world, the Amazon rainforest.
40
Wise Traditions WINTER 2017

With such variety in geography and climate comes an even greater diversity of culture. This diversity of culture is really just the conglomera- tion of the distinct responses of many different Peruvian people to the same basic questions: What does it mean to be human? How can I survive and thrive in this part of the world, wherever I am? Or, in the case of Peru, how can I survive and thrive in the driest desert or the tallest mountains or the deepest jungle? That´s why Peru is home to many languages, many traditional diets, many typical dances and many types of music.
There are so many different ways to answer the fundamental questions of what it means to be human, just within the Peruvian borders. Our three-week journey to Peru on behalf of the Weston A. Price Foundation took us through some of these layers of culture. We started in the hectic city of Lima, moved on to the white and black ranges of the Andes in Huaraz, and finished our trip in the still-glorious former capital of the Incan empire, Cusco.
DR. PRICE’S MESSAGE
To help you better understand our journey
to Peru and the goals we had in mind for our trip, we must start at the beginning of the story, with Dr. Price himself. Dr. Price traveled to Peru long before we did, back in the 1930s, and
dedicated two entire chapters of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration to Peru. (Most places he visited got only one chapter.) Clearly, Dr. Price was captivated by Peru’s people, history and the variety of diets he found there.
Dr. Price was a remarkable person. Thanks to his vision and efforts, we find ourselves in Peru reading the Wise Traditions journal, part of an incredible family of people around the world who resonate with Dr. Price’s message that “Life in all its fullest is Mother Nature obeyed”—and with his message that for humans to successfully move forward into the future, we must first honor and remember those who came before us and understand our roots and our past.
In fact, you and I are here today because we all come from a lineage of successful people. Our ancestors got it right, and for that, we should be very grateful. We do not have to go far back in human history to find people who knew how to live well. Dr. Price found many of them in the 1930s on his decade-long journey around the globe. The people he studied lived in harmony with the earth to nourish themselves, both body and spirit. They knew how to grow nutrient-dense food while contributing to soil health. They knew how to prepare food so the body could assimilate it well and, in turn, build strong, healthy and robust people who did not suffer from tooth decay and who had an easier
Clearly, Dr. Price was captivated by Peru’s people, history and the variety of diets he found there.
We shared Dr. Price’s message with all age groups in Peru, including schoolchildren in the remote province of Aija, situated in the Andean Mountains.
Quechua is the second most spoken language in Peru,
with over three million speakers. We enlisted the help of our friend Silvia, who translated into Quechua for us. Pictured here are Elías, our biologist friend, Silvia (with her baby on her back), Katie and Hilda.
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions 41

time looking at the world with a “glass half full” attitude.
Do these wonderfully robust and healthy people still exist today? If so, where can we find them? Are they in Peru or elsewhere? Part of the great gift of Dr. Price´s work is that he was traveling at the end of an era in human history when it was still possible to find a rather large number of indigenous groups around the world eating one hundred percent in the ways of their ancestors. In 2017, by contrast, you can take a small boat from Iquitos in the Amazon of northern Peru, travel for four long days, and arrive at an outpost in the middle of the jungle where the first thing you will see is Inca Kola, maybe the only drink worse than Coca-Cola. It´s a bright yellow, chemical, sugary concoction, and I´ve heard that it is
the only national soft drink to outsell Coca-Cola in any country.
Not long ago I found myself in Yunguyo, Peru, by the shores of Lake Titicaca and quite literally a stone´s throw away from Bolivia, and I was hungry. I went on a search for caldo de gallina (chicken soup), which is
a nourishing, traditional food that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years across Peru. It took me forty-five minutes to find a woman with a cart selling caldo. All the other carts were selling the generic, modern Peruvian menu of the moment: pollo a la brasa (factory-farmed roast chicken), salchicha con papas fritas (hotdogs with French fries fried in vegetable oil) and ar- roz chaufa (fried rice, fried in cheap vegetable oil). Of course, consumers wash all that down with a cold cup of Inca Kola.
RECONNECTING TO TRADITION
Eating in Peru today provides a window into a situation that goes much deeper than what
A CONVERSATION WITH AN ALMOST-CENTENARIAN IN LIMA
One of the most amazing conversations that we had in Peru was with Doña Flor Irene Guam de Cruz, a woman who was ninety-eight (and is now ninety-nine!) years old. She lives with her daughter, Pepita Carrión Guam, in a beautiful apartment in Lima. She hosted us for lunch, serving a multi-course meal that included ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon juice), fish soup and fried fish. She was eager to tell us about her diet growing up and her diet today.
Growing up, Doña Irene reported eating liver and onions made with tomato every morning for breakfast, along with sweet potato. Because Doña Irene grew up on the coast fish was a mainstay of her diet. Still talking about her childhood, she said, “At noon, we had ceviche. We would buy fish from the fisherman. We would spend all day at the beach. At five in the morning, when it was dark, we would leave home and bring everything we needed to prepare ceviche. We would bring dried fruit, everything, and would show up back home at six in the afternoon. Living at the beach is very healthy.”
Describing snacks and soups, Doña Irene stated, “We would eat olives and jamón del país (country ham), which is very good. It’s like the ham from Spain. The pigs are raised on Spanish acorns. Our local ham is like that, but with Peruvian flavor. It’s tastier. We also ate fruit, lots of dried fruit. And broth. We ate beef soup, boiling the head of the cow, the eyes. And beef feet. You get gelatin from the feet of the cow. Great food! Every day.” During pregnancy and for forty days after giving birth, she consumed chicken soup from pastured chickens.
Doña Irene’s daughter Pepita described her mother’s diet today. “You always have a rich breakfast: soft-boiled eggs, boiled sweet potato, cassava. My mom doesn’t like to eat bread, but she does like black olives. She likes cheese very much, too, she loves cheese. Manchego. Fresh cheese from the Cajamarca region. And then you always have to eat fruit in the middle of the morning. After that, lunch is five courses, because you have the appetizer, soup, main course, des- sert, fruit and tea, along with wine—always a cup of red wine. After that, you have tea time, and for that we generally get a sandwich with a piece of savory pie made with artichoke or chard. She likes chard very much. And tea or coffee with alfajorcitos (traditional caramel cookies) or a simple cake. And after that, dinner, because if my mom doesn’t have dinner, she can’t sleep. We have soup and a main course and that’s it. It’s actually a lot of work because it’s five meals over the day. Once I said, ‛Mom, you can’t eat so much at night. You should have breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess and dinner like a beggar.’ I called the doctor and said ‛Doctor, my mom shouldn’t eat so much.’ He said, ‛Put her on the phone’ and he asked her, ‛Doña Irene, how are you?’ She said, ‛You might not be hungry, doctor, but I am, so I am going to eat.’ When I got back on the phone, the doctor said, ‛Let her eat.’”
Doña Irene continues to give her household directions about what to cook. Pepita says, “We have to do what she wishes.” Every Saturday, she asks her nephew (who is a marine admiral) to buy six pounds of fish for her, and he brings her the fish. Doña Irene says, “I eat fish heads even now. Today, when I feel like having it, I go to a restaurant and ask for a fish head.”
Doña Irene noted that with the exception of dengue fever fifteen years ago, she has not had any health problems. Pepita also chimed in on her mother’s health. “My mother, for her age, has beautiful skin, right? She has had no surgeries. She doesn’t really suffer from anything. Just the lungs, because up north in Piura, there’s a lot of pollution, and it affects her lungs. And that’s it. Here, in Lima, she hasn’t been sick yet, not from the cold or anything.” Overall, Doña Irene’s life is a marvelous testament to the power of real food.
42 Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

is on our plate. Peru is at a critical crossroads, and for many, it seems as though there are only two paths to choose from—and choosing one means giving up the other. People view the crossroads as “modern” versus “traditional;” countryside versus city life (a third of the Peru- vian population now lives in the capital city of Lima); Inca Kola versus chicha (an ancient fermented corn beverage); Spanish versus Quechua (one of the many indigenous languages still spoken in the country today); textiles handwoven in the Andes versus
in Aija (nestled in the black range of the Andes) and a group of all ages dedicated to the art and science of permaculture. Everywhere, our talks were incredibly well-received. Without having heard Dr. Price’s name or read his book, we found that many Peruvians already carry his message in their hearts. Sharing Nutrition and Physical Degeneration simply provided a little more proof of what Peruvians have known for thousands of years, namely, that “Life in all its fullest is Mother Nature obeyed.”
We cannot afford to lose indigenous wisdom. We must be committed to doing
our part to preserve what is left and to teach others to do the same.
jeans imported from
China; and the list
goes on and on. But
do we really have
to make such black-
and-white choices?
Does accepting the
inevitable wave of
modernity mean that
we must give up all
that is old, ances-
tral and traditional?
The Weston A. Price
Foundation, channel-
ing Dr. Price´s mes-
sage, tells us that it
does not have to be
this way. We can use
technology to our ad-
vantage to help us preserve thousands of years of accumulated wisdom about how to eat and live in harmony with the earth.
As representatives of the Foundation, our goal in our Peruvian journey was not to preach but rather to inspire. We started each talk by telling the audience: “You know more than we do. This is your land, and these are your grand- parents and your traditions. It is your wisdom to remember.” We said that we were traveling as messengers of Dr. Price because his book is remarkable and important. It provides all of us, whether in Peru or beyond, with a roadmap from the past to show us how to take our next step into creating a beautiful future together.
We shared Dr. Price´s message with many different kinds of people, including young, bright students from the National Agrarian University in Lima, small-town schoolchildren
WINTER 2017
NEXT STEPS
In the aftermath
of our trip, the very important question arises as to what our next steps might be, both within and outside of Peru. What do we do in the face of cultural erosion, which includes culinary erosion? What can we do as individuals—and also collectively as members of the Founda- tion—to help Peru and other countries that are still closer to
their roots? There is so much left that we can help save.
We are all connected. Lost culinary wisdom in Peru affects you and me, even if you never visit the land of the Incas. That it took me forty- five minutes to find a caldo in Yunguyo matters to you and me and every person on the planet. We cannot afford to lose indigenous wisdom. We must be committed to doing our part to preserve what is left and to teach others to do the same, just as Dr. Price did so long ago.
Peru is a place to which we can lend our prayers, our resources and our actions. We are establishing two WAPF chapters in Lima. We filmed our hour-long talk in Spanish about the message in Dr. Price’s book and plan to publish it on YouTube so that Spanish speakers worldwide can watch it and learn more about the value of traditional wisdom in the kitchen and
“To know our past is the starting point for building possible futures.” We met Wilfredo Puma Llanos on the streets of Pisac, carrying this beautiful sign.
Wise Traditions
43

What has always impressed me the most about Dr. Price’s book is the profoundly authentic respect that he had for indigenous people, their lives and their wisdom.
in life. We also want to thank WAPF members for their membership and continued support of the Foundation. Thanks to member support, our dream of a trip to Peru became a reality. Many more projects will be born from this initial effort to expand the Foundation´s presence across Latin America.
AUTHENTIC RESPECT
Every time I pick up Nutrition and Physi-
cal Degeneration, I discover another gem of wisdom that leaves me in awe of the potential of the human being. I have such reverence for life and for all the different ways that people have found to show what it means to be alive and to eat and live well. I believe that Dr. Price shared this reverence for life. In fact, what has always impressed me the most about his book is the profound respect that he had for indigenous people, their lives and their wisdom. As an educated white man traveling in the 1930s to remote corners of the earth, Dr. Price treated the people he encountered as wise people he wished to learn from. Thanks to Dr. Price´s courage and efforts, in 2017 we were able to follow in his footsteps and in his spirt of love, respect and care for the Peruvian people—those living now
MORE WONDERFUL VENDORS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017
LEFT: Buchi Kombucha donated delicious kombucha for every meal!
RIGHT: Dr. Linda’s crispy nuts, popcorn and seaweed products were very popular!
LEFT: Many attendees enjoyed the healing infrared lights at Sauna Space.
RIGHT: A happy attendee enjoys the warmth at WBWC Personal Infrared Sauna.
as well as those who came before in one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
I like to say that “my life is my prayer,” and I like to think that Dr. Price felt the same way. His book is a beautiful, scientific and adventurous love poem to humanity in all of her glory and potential. We can be agents of destruction, but we can also be agents of unimaginable positive change. I choose the latter. May we never forget that to create a healthy future, we must honor our roots, our past and the soil beneath our feet. I am thankful to Dr. Price and to the country of Peru for teaching me and so many others this lesson of respect.
Katie Williamson is the founder of the New Orleans WAPF chapter, a lover of Perú and an enthusiastic sharer of Dr. Price´s book, Nutri- tion and Physical Degeneration. She has been dividing her time between the U.S. and Perú for the last six and a half years. Katie manages a Spanish-language blog, Yo Soy Pachamamista, dedicated to sharing traditional wisdom for both human and planetary health.
44
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

A TASTE OF PERU By Hilda Labrada Gore
Our three-week trip to Peru came and went in the blink of an eye (un abrir y cerrar de los ojos). Katie and I zig-zagged across the country to address children, young adults, mothers of small children, food devotees and many others.
One memorable encounter took place in La Merced, a small mountain village in Aija. The Vicente Guerrero Palacios elementary school almost literally rolled out the red carpet for us at a school assembly. The desks in front of us were covered with bright red fabric, accented by yellows, greens and blues. The student band, dressed in white, played their horns and drums. The principal turned up the sound system and heartily welcomed us and the students treated us to a traditional dance and an inspiring poem. Katie and I were humbled by this reception.
Many villagers in La Merced still speak Quechua. They live close to the land, enjoying the fruits of their farming and their traditional foods. As a parting gift, the villagers served us huge bowls of their traditional quinoa and tocosh soup. Tocosh is a tangy-tasting potato (reminiscent of tamarind), fermented over a period of months so that it acquires wonderful antibiotic and medicinal properties. Admittedly, tocosh may be an acquired taste, but I was thrilled beyond measure that this community was holding on to its ancestral food ways.
We sampled several traditional meat dishes in Peru, including anticucho (beef heart served on a skewer), alpaca meat and chicharrones de cuy (guinea pig fritters). Cuy is a traditional protein source that was even eaten by the Incas, so it was exciting to find these foods still being served in restaurants and homes across the country. I also enjoyed lomo saltado (a meat, onion and potato dish) prepared and served by a lovely indigenous woman in Aija.
That said, Peru is experiencing the same apparent tension between the “old ways” and the “new ways” that we observe in countless other countries. There are multiple threats to the health of the people and the land. For example, Monsanto and Bayer have reached the Sacred Valley (not far from Machu Picchu) and are persuading farmers to replace their natural varied corn crops with genetically modified corn. Some people still cherish traditional foods (and ancient preparation methods), but others regard them as outdated. In many circles, Peruvians equate the word “healthy” with a meatless diet, and veganism is on the rise. (A vegan café in Lima was pleasingly committed to serving locally and sustainably obtained food but is part of a wider trend that unfairly labels animal products as unhealthy.) Supermarkets selling sodas and processed foods are mere blocks away from open-air markets where “mamitas” (indigenous women in lovely traditional skirts and hats) sell garden produce, including medicinal herbs, plants, corn, beans, fruits and vegetables.
Fortunately, mamitas were everywhere we went, and traditional markets appear to be adapting and thriving. Bioferias (organic farmers’ markets) are popping up everywhere. Bioferias sell a dazzling combination of organic, gluten-free and even vegan products. At the Lima bioferia, fruits and vegetables (many of which I had never seen before) were plentiful, along with fresh artisanal bread, butter, cheese and more. In Cusco, we visited a marvelous traditional market (one of several in that city) set up in an enormous concrete building the size of a convention center. Market stands offered fresh chicken, beef, cheeses, juices, soups, fruits and vegetables—you name it! I spotted many fruits (such as aguaymanto, lúcuma and passionfruit) and potatoes everywhere (Peru boasts some three thousand varieties). Also in Cusco, we met a group called Canasta Solidaria Mihuna Kachun that is working hard to resurrect traditional foods, herbs and spices. They sell samples at farmers’ markets, reacquainting Peruvians with these foods and teaching them what nutrients the foods provide and how to prepare them.
While talking with a group of moms in their childbearing years in Lima, we mentioned that every culture had some kind of sacred food to give to mothers-to-be prior to conception. One of the young women interjected that whenever she returned to her village for a visit, her grandmother urged her to have some animal blood so that she “could have babies.” In Pisac, a town in the Sacred Valley region, a Quechuan man confirmed that it was their tradition to give young people guinea pig and sheep’s blood from the ages of sixteen to eighteen to prepare them for conception.
Overall, it was a joy to find so many who are convinced of the importance of embracing and holding on to traditional wisdom related to the soil and food. Fortunately, those who support wise traditions have the proper fuel and strength to weather the storm of modern dietary influences and trends, both in Peru and around the world.
Hilda Labrada Gore is an enthusiastic communicator, health coach and fitness professional. She is the producer and host of the Wise Traditions podcast, and also is the DC co-chapter leader for WAPF. She is passionate about wellness on every level, which is why she is known as “holistic Hilda” (holistichilda.com). She is a blogger, speaker and consultant for those who want to launch their own podcasts. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, children and dog and cat.
SAVE THE
DATE!
Wise Traditions 2018
November 16–18, 2018 Hilton Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland
WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions 45

Reading Between the Lines
By Merinda Teller
Modern Assaults on the Thyroid
In the modern era, the small but mighty thyroid gland—and the entire endocrine system of which it is a part—are under attack from many directions.
Thyroid health is critically important. The thyroid gland—which makes and secretes hormones that regulate metabolism—influences cells, tissues and organs throughout the body. As one thyroid expert puts it, “Without your thyroid, you’d wind down like a child’s toy.”1
Unfortunately, in the modern era the small but mighty thyroid gland—and the entire endocrine system of which it is a part—are under attack from many directions. An estimated twenty million Americans suffer from some type of disorder that affects the thyroid, with women far more likely (five to eight times) than men to have thyroid problems. According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime.2 Even so, many conventional health care workers fail to recognize and accurately diagnose thyroid problems.
HYPOTHYROIDISM
Eight out of ten individuals with a thyroid
disorder have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Most often, this will be Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks (and eventually in- capacitates) the thyroid as if it were an enemy. Hashimoto’s is on the rise but is already the most common autoimmune disease in the U.S., prompting massive sales of synthetic thyroid hormones.3 Thyroid authority Raphael Kellman makes the important point that Hashimoto’s actually is not a thyroid disease but rather “an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid.”4
Based on years of clinical observation, Dr. Robert Thompson, author of The Calcium Lie,5 has developed five distinct categories of hypothyroidism that illustrate the many different ways that thyroid health can go awry. (He admits that “the medical profession does not generally
recognize them thus far.”1) They include:
• Type 1 (the failure to produce sufficient thyroid hormones)
• Type 2 (thyroid hormone resistance, where the body is unable to recognize or use the thyroid hormones that it produces)
• Type 3 (autoimmune thyroid disease, including Hashimoto’s)
• Type 4 (severe selenium deficiency)
• Type 5 (Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome).
According to Dr. Thompson, the five types are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
For virtually all of these thyroid-related conditions, dietary and environmental factors are major parts of the problem.7 Aspects of modern life that are contributing to thyroid disease include the Standard American high-soy, lowfat and fat-soluble-vitamin-deficient diet; iodine imbalances;8 and exposure to toxic substances,9 notably fluoride.10 Diet and detoxification should, therefore, represent critical elements of any solution. As holistic nutritionist Dr. Ronda Nelson states, “Don’t fix your thyroid, feed it!”11
THYROID-UNFRIENDLY SOY
A singular feature of the modern American
diet is its reliance on and love affair with myriad forms of cheap industrially processed soy. As Michael Pollan has observed, “A food scientist can construct just about any processed food he or she can dream up” with soy (as well as corn and “a handful of synthetic additives”).12
Long-time Wise Traditions readers will know, however, that soy isoflavones inhibit the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO), that plays a key role in thyroid hormone synthesis, and they also interfere with thyroid hormone production: “This interference can cause a drop in thyroid hormone levels, an increase in thyroid stimulat-
6
46
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

ing hormone and stress on the thyroid gland,” which is “a prescription for thyroid trouble.”13 Even one serving of soy food can pack more of a thyroid-inhibiting punch (“up to three times the goitrogenic potency”) as pharmaceutical drugs intentionally designed for that purpose.13 A health writer who has reviewed the body of evidence on soy and the thyroid advises caution with all forms of fractionated soy, particularly because these products also are likely to derive from genetically modified (GM) soy.14
In the Journal of Medical Case Reports in 2017, Japanese researchers corroborated soy’s role as an “exogenous food” capable of inter- fering with thyroid hormone production. They presented (to their knowledge) “the first report of the presence of [soy] isoflavone in the serum of a patient with severe hypothyroidism.”15 The report described the case of a seventy-two-year- old woman who showed up at the hospital with sudden-onset severe hypothyroidism after six months of regularly consuming a processed soy- containing “health drink.” Because the woman was an ongoing patient, the researchers had access to her frozen serum from five time points before the hospital admission and continuing for several months after admission. This allowed them to pinpoint the soy isoflavones as the culprit for the patient’s sudden decline, leading the authors to conclude that “consuming health drinks that include soy isoflavone powder extract can lead to severe hypothyroidism.” After immediate discontinuation of the beverage, the woman’s thyroid markers gradually returned to more normal levels.
The ringing endorsement of commercial soy by celebrity doctors such as Andrew Weil and Christiane Northrup has helped perpetu- ate the erroneous belief that products such as soy milk are healthy, but those days may be numbered. In response to a petition submitted almost ten years ago by the Weston A. Price Foundation, the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- tration (FDA) belatedly has proposed revoking food manufacturers’ ability to claim that soy protein reduces heart disease risk. An FDA representative stated, “This is the first time we have considered it necessary to propose a rule to revoke a health claim,” admitting that “the totality of currently available scientific evidence
WINTER 2017
calls into question the certainty” of the suppos- edly protective soy-heart relationship.16 This landmark shift from an ordinarily intractable agency is good news not just for heart health but also for thyroid health. In fact, the two are intricately interrelated. Cardiovascular symptoms are “some of the most characteristic and common” signs of thyroid disease, and thyroid dysfunction can explain “changes in cardiac output, cardiac contractility, blood pressure, vascular resistance and rhythm disturbances.”17 A thyroid blogger asks, “Could there be people on statin drugs and blood pressure medication... who are actually undiagnosed hypothyroidism sufferers?”18
LOWFAT, LOW-CARB, HELP!
Another piece of dogma that continues to
steer Americans’ eating habits—and thyroid health—in the wrong direction is the slow-to- go-away advice to eat a lowfat diet. (Fortunately, this advice also has just taken a major hit; an eighteen-country study published in The Lancet in November 2017 shows no association between total fat or saturated fat intake and heart disease, while pointing to a higher risk of total mortality associated with high carbohydrate intake.19)
The Hormones & Balance website (au- thored by a holistic health coach who recovered from Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s and adrenal fatigue) makes the point that our bodies need good-quality fats to absorb the all-important fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K)—crucial vitamins that thyroid patients often are lack- ing.20 Secondly, the body needs fats to make hormones; when intake of healthy fats is inadequate, hormone levels “plummet” and the hormone-producing thyroid “similarly takes a hit.”20 Some of the healthiest fats in this (and many other) regards include butter, ghee and coconut oil. As certified nutritionist Kim Schuette points out, all three fats are excellent sources of butyric acid, which plays an important role in supporting delivery of thyroid hormones to receptor sites throughout the body.21 Others agree that “high intake of saturated and mono- unsaturated fat but low intake of polyunsatu- rated fat would seem to be optimal for thyroid function.”22
Schuette’s discussion of beneficial fats
The body needs fats
to make hormones; when intake of healthy fats is inadequate, hormone levels “plummet” and the hormone- producing thyroid “similarly takes a hit.”
Wise Traditions
47

Iodine is essential for synthesis of thyroid hormones, so it is not surprising that the thyroid is where the body stores roughly three-fourths of its iodine.
arises in the context of an article focusing on the problems associated with long-term avoidance of complex carbohydrates.21 As healing regi- mens such as the ketogenic and GAPS diets have gained in popularity (alongside continued fas- cination with lower-carb paleo and “ancestral” diets), the role to be played by carbohydrates in a healthy diet has become “hotly contested” and “completely confusing.”23
In point of fact, both extremes can be chal- lenging for the thyroid. On the one hand, a diet that is high in refined carbohydrates can lead to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes—diseases strongly correlated with thyroid disorders.24 On the other hand, when individuals who are understandably trying to avoid sugars and refined grains swing to a zero or very-low- carbohydrate diet, this can have the effect of blocking biologically active thyroid hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism symptoms such as fatigue, constipation and depression.21 As one person puts it, “When all available glucose is being conserved for your brain,” the body has no choice but to put the process of thyroid hormone conversion “on hold.”24 To restoke one’s “metabolic fire,” Schuette recommends including properly prepared complex carbohydrates with each meal (including starchy vegetables and soaked legumes and grains), accompanied by plentiful animal fat and/or coconut oil and Celtic sea salt to supply minerals and trace elements, including iodine.21
IODINE AND FLUORIDE
Iodine is essential for synthesis of thyroid
hormones, so it is not surprising that the thyroid gland is where the body stores roughly three- fourths of its iodine. Dr. Ronda Nelson describes this storage system as a “savings account” that periodically requires replenishment.11 In addition to needing to take in adequate iodine, according to Dr. Nelson, we need to have a healthy gut (which facilitates conversion of some por- tion of iodine to iodide), and we need the right cofactors (especially the fat-soluble vitamins, magnesium, selenium and vitamin D) to enable the transport of iodine and its use by the thyroid. Studies have identified interactions between vitamin A and iodine metabolism, for example, showing that diets deficient in both nutrients im-
pair thyroid metabolism to a greater extent than diets deficient in only one or the other.25 Vitamin A supplementation (with a natural source like cod liver oil) reduces the risk of hypothyroidism and improves iodide efficiency.25
Three toxic halogens (bromine, chlorine and fluorine) are structurally similar to iodine. Because of this similarity, they can take up residence in the thyroid gland, where they exert a negative influence and displace iodine.8 The three elements are all worrisome from a health standpoint. However, the policy of adding unpurified industrial fluoride compounds to municipal drinking water may be particularly egregious because it subjects citizens to systemic negative health effects, without their consent, in exchange for a putative benefit to the teeth. (Even this highly touted dental “benefit” is questionable, given the rising prevalence of dental fluorosis.)26 The compounds added to public water include fluorosilicic acid (an acidic liquid) and sodium fluorosilicate and sodium fluoride (dry powders), all of which also are frequently contaminated with “non-trivial” amounts of arsenic.27 U.S. water utilities not only obtain their fluoride chemicals from the U.S. phosphate fertilizer industry but also from China, where oversight is likely to be “lax and variable.”27
Leading neurology experts agree that fluoride compounds are neurotoxic,28 but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) persists in celebrating water fluoridation as a major public health achievement. As a result, it is difficult for U.S.-based researchers to obtain funding to study fluoride’s adverse health effects. Researchers in other countries have made greater headway. For example, a 2015 study in the United Kingdom—where about 10 percent of the population receives fluoridated water (in contrast to roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population)—took advantage of the availability of detailed community water fluoridation data and General Practice data on the prevalence of hypothyroidism to assess fluoride’s effects on the thyroid.10
The researchers found that practices located in fluoridated areas were nearly twice as likely to report a high prevalence of hypothyroidism as practices in non-fluoridated areas, raising “concerns about the validity of community
48
Wise Traditions
WINTER 2017

Pages:

Click to View FlipBook Version